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{{CompanyCargo
{{CompanyCargo
|Description=
|Founded=1977
|Founded=1977
|Industry=Entertainment, Movies
|Industry=Entertainment, Movies
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|Type=Public
|Type=Public
|Website=https://cinemark.com
|Website=https://cinemark.com
|Description=
}}
}}
'''Cinemark Theatres''' is a major American and international movie theater chain founded in 1977. As of March 2025, there are 497 Cinemark theaters in the United States and Latin America combined.<ref name="about">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinemark.com/about-cinemark/about-us/|title=About Cinemark Holdings, Inc.|access-date=2025-06-13|work=Cinemark|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250514084350/https://www.cinemark.com/about-cinemark/about-us/|archive-date=2025-05-14|url-status=live}}</ref>


==Consumer-impact summary==
'''Cinemark Theatres''' is a major American and international movie theater chain founded in 1977. As of March 2025, there are 497 Cinemark theaters in the United States and Latin America combined.<ref name="about">{{Cite web |author= |title=About Cinemark Holdings, Inc. |url=https://www.cinemark.com/about-cinemark/about-us/ |website=Cinemark |date= |access-date=13 Jun 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250514084350/https://www.cinemark.com/about-cinemark/about-us/ |archive-date=14 May 2025}}</ref>
{{Placeholder box|Overview of concerns that arise from the company's conduct regarding (if applicable):
 
* User freedom
==Consumer impact summary==
* User privacy
{{Ph-C-CIS}}
* Business model
* Market control}}


====Freedom====
*'''User freedom:''' To use digital gift cards or mobile ticketing, users must create an account and agree to the Cinemark [[Terms of Service]].
To use digital gift cards or mobile ticketing, users must create an account and agree to the Cinemark [[Terms of Service]].


====Market control====
*'''Market control:''' Cinemark operates hundreds of cinemas across 42 states in the U.S.A. and globally, with them being the third largest cinema circuit in the U.S.A. and having presence in 15 of the top 20 South American cities.<ref name="about" /> Over the years, Cinemark has acquired Century Theatres, Rave Cinemas, and Tinseltown USA, further increasing their presence in the United States.<ref name="about" />
Cinemark operates hundreds of cinemas across 42 states in the U.S. and globally, with them being the third largest cinema circuit in the U.S and having presence in 15 of the top 20 South American cities.<ref name="about" /> Over the years, Cinemark has acquired Century Theatres, Rave Cinemas, and Tinseltown USA, further increasing their presence in the United States.<ref name="about" />


*'''Forced arbitration:''' Cinemark [[Forced arbitration|requires binding arbitration]] for any disputes. The user can only opt-out via a written letter postmarked within thirty days of first agreeing to the ToS — or forfeit their right to {{Wplink|class action}} lawsuits or judicial resolution.<ref name="tos">{{Cite web |author= |title=Cinemark Terms of Service |url=https://www.cinemark.com/terms-conditions |website=Cinemark |date= |access-date=7 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260112052127/https://www.cinemark.com/terms-conditions |archive-date=12 Jan 2026}}</ref>


==Incidents==
*'''Liability cap:''' Cinemark's ToS include a broad limitation of liability clause: ''"IN SUCH JURISDICTIONS, OUR LIABILITY IS LIMITED ... OR $20, WHICHEVER IS LESS."''<ref name="tos" /> This restricts consumer recoveries to $20 or less, regardless of the magnitude of actual damages (such as duplicate charges or failed redemptions).
{{Placeholder box|Add one-paragraph summaries of incidents below in sub-sections, which link to each incident's main article while linking to the main article and including a short summary. It is acceptable to create an incident summary before the main page for an incident has been created. To link to the page use the "Hatnote" or "Main" templates.


If the company has numerous incidents then format them in a table (see [[Amazon]] for an example). }}
*'''Forced click‑wrap agreement:''' Users must accept these terms post-purchase if they want to redeem gift cards or buy tickets online.


==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].


===Liability cap===
===''U.S.A. and State of Texas v. Cinemark Holdings, Inc., et al.'' (''2013'')===
Cinemark’s ToS include a broad limitation of liability clause:
The U.S. federal government and the Texas state government brought civil anti-trust action against Cinemark Holdings, Inc. in an effort to "prevent the proposed acquisition by Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (“Cinemark”) of thirty-two movie theatres owned and operated by Rave Holdings, LLC (“Rave Cinemas”)".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author= |title=''U.S.A. and State of Texas v. Cinemark Holdings, Inc., et al.'' (1:13-cv-00727) |url=https://www.justice.gov/atr/case-document/file/491746/dl |website=U.S. Department of Justice |date=20 May 2013 |access-date=7 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250203014301/https://www.justice.gov/atr/case-document/file/491746/dl |archive-date=3 Feb 2025}}</ref> The Cinemark acquisition of Rave Holdings constituted a $220 million dollar deal, where Cinemark was to acquire 35 of Rave Holdings' theaters across 12 states.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |author= |title=''United States and Texas v. Cinemark Holdings et al.'', No. 13-727 (D.D.C. 2013) |url=https://www.naag.org/multistate-case/united-states-and-texas-v-cinemark-holdings-et-al-no-13-727-d-d-c-2013/ |website=National Association of Attorneys General |date=2013 |access-date=7 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204221022/https://www.naag.org/multistate-case/united-states-and-texas-v-cinemark-holdings-et-al-no-13-727-d-d-c-2013/ |archive-date=4 Dec 2022}}</ref> Rave Holdings constituted a large majority of the competition facing Cinemark "in and around Voorhees and Somerdale in southern New Jersey, the eastern sector of Louisville, Kentucky, and the area in and around Denton, Texas".<ref name=":0" /> Additionally, Cinemark's founder and Chairman of the Board was noted as owning Movie Tavern, Inc. ("Movie Tavern"), which was a significant competitor to Rave Cinemas in western Fort Worth, Texas.  
 
:''"IN SUCH JURISDICTIONS, OUR LIABILITY IS LIMITED … OR $20, WHICHEVER IS LESS."''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinemark.com/terms-conditions-archive/terms-conditions-current/|title=Cinemark Terms of Service|work=Cinemark|access-date=2025-06-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250505055911/https://www.cinemark.com/terms-conditions-archive/terms-conditions-current/|archive-date=2025-05-05|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
This restricts consumer recoveries to $20 or less, regardless of the magnitude of actual damages, such as duplicate charges or failed redemptions.
 
===Forced arbitration and opt‑out===
Cinemark requires binding arbitration for any disputes:
 
:''"Unless you opt‑out … any future disputes … will be resolved by binding arbitration … You are waiving your right … unless you send notice post‑marked no later than thirty (30) days after the date you accept these Terms of Service for the first time."''
 
Users must send a written opt‑out letter within 30 days of first agreeing to the ToS—or forfeit their right to class-action lawsuits or judicial resolution.
 
====Why it matters====
 
*'''Cap on liability''': Consumers may suffer significant losses but only recover a trivial amount.
*'''Arbitration requirement''': Arbitration is often more costly and less transparent, and consumers may lose access to court remedies.
*'''Forced click‑wrap agreement''': Users must accept these terms post-purchase if they want to redeem gift cards or buy tickets online.
 
====Impact on consumers====
These conditions shift risk and legal protections away from users by embedding restrictive clauses in mandatory account agreements—especially where users are unlikely to read or understand fine-print ToS.
 
==Anti-consumer legal cases==
 
===Anti-competitive behavior===
 
====U.S. and State of Texas v. Cinemark Holdings, Inc., et al. (May 2013—August 2013)====
The U.S. and the State of Texas brought civil antitrust action against Cinemark Holdings, Inc. in an effort to "prevent the proposed acquisition by Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (“Cinemark”) of thirty-two movie theatres owned and operated by Rave Holdings, LLC (“Rave Cinemas”)"<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2013-05-20 |title=U.S. and State of Texas v. Cinemark Holdings, Inc., et al. |url=https://www.justice.gov/atr/case-document/file/491746/dl |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=U.S. Department of Justice}}</ref>. The Cinemark acquisition of Rave Holdings constituted a $220 million dollar deal, where Cinemark was to acquire 35 of Rave Holdings' theaters across 12 states<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2013 |title=United States and Texas v. Cinemark Holdings et al., No. 13-727 (D.D.C. 2013) |url=https://www.naag.org/multistate-case/united-states-and-texas-v-cinemark-holdings-et-al-no-13-727-d-d-c-2013/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=National Association of Attorneys General}}</ref>. Rave Holdings constituted a large majority of the competition facing Cinemark "in and around Voorhees and Somerdale in southern New Jersey, the eastern sector of Louisville, Kentucky, and the area in and around Denton, Texas"<ref name=":0" />. Additionally, Cinemark's founder and Chairman of the Board was noted as owning Movie Tavern, Inc. ("Movie Tavern"), which was a significant competitor to Rave Cinemas in western Forth Worth, Texas.  


Thus, the acquisition of Rave Holdings by Cinemark was seen by the Department of Justice as a violation of Section 7 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. § 18, which states that "No person engaged in commerce or in any activity affecting commerce shall acquire, directly or indirectly, the whole or any part of the stock... the effect of such acquisition may be substantially to lessen competition, or to tend to create a monopoly"<ref>{{Cite web |date=1914-10-15 |title=Acquisition by one corporation of stock of another |url=https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title15-section18&num=0 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=Office of the Law Revision Counsel}}</ref>.
Thus, the acquisition of Rave Holdings by Cinemark was seen by the Department of Justice as a violation of Section 7 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. § 18, which states that "No person engaged in commerce or in any activity affecting commerce shall acquire, directly or indirectly, the whole or any part of the stock... the effect of such acquisition may be substantially to lessen competition, or to tend to create a monopoly".<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Acquisition by one corporation of stock of another |url=https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title15-section18&num=0 |website=Office of the Law Revision Counsel |date=15 Oct 1914 |access-date=7 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260507230502/https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title15-section18&num=0 |archive-date=7 May 2026}}</ref>


Final judgement was passed on August 15, 2013 which ordered Cinemark to divest Movie Tavern, Inc., as well as three Texas based theaters<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-08-15 |title=U.S. and State of Texas v. Cinemark Holdings, Inc., et al. - Final Judgment |url=https://www.justice.gov/atr/case-document/file/491711/dl |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=U.S. Department of Justice}}</ref>.
Final judgement was passed on 15 August 2013, which ordered Cinemark to divest Movie Tavern, Inc., as well as three Texas based theaters.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=U.S. and State of Texas v. Cinemark Holdings, Inc., et al. - Final Judgment |url=https://www.justice.gov/atr/case-document/file/491711/dl |website=U.S. Department of Justice |date=15 Aug 2013 |access-date=7 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250203014302/https://www.justice.gov/atr/case-document/file/491711/dl |archive-date=3 Feb 2025}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Companies]]

Latest revision as of 23:57, 7 May 2026

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Cinemark
Basic information
Founded 1977
Legal Structure Public
Industry Entertainment, Movies
Also known as
Official website https://cinemark.com

Cinemark Theatres is a major American and international movie theater chain founded in 1977. As of March 2025, there are 497 Cinemark theaters in the United States and Latin America combined.[1]

Consumer impact summary

[edit | edit source]

Overview of concerns that arise from the conduct towards users of the product (if applicable):

  • User Freedom
  • User Privacy
  • Business Model
  • Market Control

Add your text below this box. Once this section is complete, delete this box by clicking on it and pressing backspace.


  • User freedom: To use digital gift cards or mobile ticketing, users must create an account and agree to the Cinemark Terms of Service.
  • Market control: Cinemark operates hundreds of cinemas across 42 states in the U.S.A. and globally, with them being the third largest cinema circuit in the U.S.A. and having presence in 15 of the top 20 South American cities.[1] Over the years, Cinemark has acquired Century Theatres, Rave Cinemas, and Tinseltown USA, further increasing their presence in the United States.[1]
  • Forced arbitration: Cinemark requires binding arbitration for any disputes. The user can only opt-out via a written letter postmarked within thirty days of first agreeing to the ToS — or forfeit their right to class action lawsuits or judicial resolution.[2]
  • Liability cap: Cinemark's ToS include a broad limitation of liability clause: "IN SUCH JURISDICTIONS, OUR LIABILITY IS LIMITED ... OR $20, WHICHEVER IS LESS."[2] This restricts consumer recoveries to $20 or less, regardless of the magnitude of actual damages (such as duplicate charges or failed redemptions).
  • Forced click‑wrap agreement: Users must accept these terms post-purchase if they want to redeem gift cards or buy tickets online.

Incidents

[edit | edit source]

This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the Cinemark category.

U.S.A. and State of Texas v. Cinemark Holdings, Inc., et al. (2013)

[edit | edit source]

The U.S. federal government and the Texas state government brought civil anti-trust action against Cinemark Holdings, Inc. in an effort to "prevent the proposed acquisition by Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (“Cinemark”) of thirty-two movie theatres owned and operated by Rave Holdings, LLC (“Rave Cinemas”)".[3] The Cinemark acquisition of Rave Holdings constituted a $220 million dollar deal, where Cinemark was to acquire 35 of Rave Holdings' theaters across 12 states.[4] Rave Holdings constituted a large majority of the competition facing Cinemark "in and around Voorhees and Somerdale in southern New Jersey, the eastern sector of Louisville, Kentucky, and the area in and around Denton, Texas".[3] Additionally, Cinemark's founder and Chairman of the Board was noted as owning Movie Tavern, Inc. ("Movie Tavern"), which was a significant competitor to Rave Cinemas in western Fort Worth, Texas.

Thus, the acquisition of Rave Holdings by Cinemark was seen by the Department of Justice as a violation of Section 7 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. § 18, which states that "No person engaged in commerce or in any activity affecting commerce shall acquire, directly or indirectly, the whole or any part of the stock... the effect of such acquisition may be substantially to lessen competition, or to tend to create a monopoly".[5]

Final judgement was passed on 15 August 2013, which ordered Cinemark to divest Movie Tavern, Inc., as well as three Texas based theaters.[4][6]

References

[edit | edit source]
  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "About Cinemark Holdings, Inc". Cinemark. Archived from the original on 14 May 2025. Retrieved 13 Jun 2025.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Cinemark Terms of Service". Cinemark. Archived from the original on 12 Jan 2026. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "U.S.A. and State of Texas v. Cinemark Holdings, Inc., et al. (1:13-cv-00727)". U.S. Department of Justice. 20 May 2013. Archived from the original on 3 Feb 2025. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  4. 4.0 4.1 "United States and Texas v. Cinemark Holdings et al., No. 13-727 (D.D.C. 2013)". National Association of Attorneys General. 2013. Archived from the original on 4 Dec 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  5. "Acquisition by one corporation of stock of another". Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 Oct 1914. Archived from the original on 7 May 2026. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  6. "U.S. and State of Texas v. Cinemark Holdings, Inc., et al. - Final Judgment". U.S. Department of Justice. 15 Aug 2013. Archived from the original on 3 Feb 2025. Retrieved 7 May 2026.