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LEASES
12 Months Ended
Mar. 29, 2012
LEASES  
LEASES

NOTE 12—LEASES

        Beginning in fiscal 1998, the Company has completed numerous real estate lease agreements with Entertainment Properties Trust ("EPT") including transactions accounted for as sale and leaseback transactions in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification No. 840, Leases. The leases are triple net leases that require the Company to pay substantially all expenses associated with the operation of the theatres such as taxes and other charges, insurance, utilities, service, maintenance and any ground lease payments. As of March 29, 2012, the Company leased from EPT 40 theatres with 825 screens located in the United States and Canada.

        Following is a schedule, by year, of future minimum rental payments required under existing operating leases that have initial or remaining non-cancelable terms in excess of one year as of March 29, 2012:

(In thousands)
  Minimum
operating
lease payments
 

2013

  $ 417,237  

2014

    417,556  

2015

    415,533  

2016

    404,061  

2017

    387,027  

Thereafter

    1,909,774  
       

Total minimum payments required

  $ 3,951,188  
       

        As of March 29, 2012, the Company has a lease agreement for one theatre with 12 screens which is under construction and is expected to open in fiscal 2014. Included above are digital projector equipment leases payable to DCIP.

        Included in other long-term liabilities as of March 29, 2012 and March 31, 2011 is $126,224,000 and $112,762,000, respectively, of deferred rent representing future minimum rental payments for leases with scheduled rent increases, and $125,772,000 and $143,426,000, respectively, for unfavorable lease liabilities.

        Rent expense is summarized as follows:

(In thousands)
  52 Weeks
Ended
March 29, 2012
  52 Weeks
Ended
March 31, 2011
  52 Weeks
Ended
April 1, 2010
 

Minimum rentals

  $ 415,677   $ 422,351   $ 391,493  

Common area expenses

    43,480     46,208     41,189  

Percentage rentals based on revenues

    9,666     7,251     7,982  
               

Rent

    468,823     475,810     440,664  

Operating expense

    6,969     2,975     45  

General and administrative—other

    1,778     1,690     1,382  
               

Total

  $ 477,570   $ 480,475   $ 442,091