Movie Theater to Reopen at Dover Mall

Dover Movies 14 is expected to open later this year in the former AMC space at Dover Mall, bringing a movie theater back to Dover for the first time since 2024. (Photo courtesy of Dover Mall.)

Moviegoers in central Delaware will soon have a new option close to home as a locally owned theater company prepares to reopen the former AMC location at Dover Mall.

The new theater, Dover Movies 14, is expected to open in late summer or early fall, bringing movies back to Dover more than two years after AMC permanently closed its 14-screen theater at the mall in March 2024.

The theater will be operated by Delaware businessman Arthur Helmick, whose company also owns movie theaters in Milford, Middletown and Newark. According to reports, the new venue will occupy the same space previously used by AMC and will feature first-run films.

The reopening marks the return of a movie theater to Dover, which has been without a cinema since the AMC closure. At the time, residents were forced to travel to neighboring communities such as Milford and Middletown to see new releases.

The addition of Dover Movies 14 also comes as Dover Mall continues efforts to attract new tenants and increase customer traffic. The mall has experienced several store closures in recent years, reflecting broader challenges facing traditional shopping centers nationwide. Mall officials believe the return of a movie theater will help draw more visitors to the property and support surrounding businesses.

The former AMC theater had served Dover-area moviegoers for decades under various operators before closing in 2024. The location most recently operated as AMC Classic Dover 14 after AMC acquired the theater through its purchase of Carmike Cinemas.

An official opening date for Dover Movies 14 has not yet been announced, but plans call for the theater to welcome customers later this year.