Going to the movies is hot again because of audience magnets like "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer." NPR's Elizabeth Blair looks at whether the booming theater business can be sustained. ELIZABETH BLAIR, BYLINE: The global box office hit $4.5 billion in July, according to the research firm Gower Street.

Are movie theaters making a comeback?

Movie ticket sales are crawling back to pre-pandemic levels

According to The Numbers, a publicly available database of movie industry statistics, annual tickets sold for 2023 are expected to reach 922 million.

Is the movie theater industry growing?

The global Movie Theater market size was valued at USD 72092.79 million in 2022 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.41% during the forecast period, reaching USD 93402.2 million by 2028.

Are movie theaters getting less popular?

However, since the COVID-19 pandemic, going to a movie theater has become less common in the United States. In a May 2022 study, 41% of respondents said they rarely go to see a movie in theaters, with 18% saying they never go.

Why are movie theaters becoming less popular?

The decline in movie theater attendance can be attributed to several factors, including the pandemic and the popularity of streaming services. However, watching a movie on the big screen with other fans is a unique experience that cannot be replicated at home.

Why movie theaters aren't dead yet

Are movie theaters in trouble?

Outside a few brand-name movies, theaters are struggling to rally from three years of social distancing and isolation, and decades of growing competition for our shrinking attention spans. Even before screens went dark in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans were choosing to watch at home — if at all.

What is the downfall of movie theaters?

The decline of movie theaters in the US can be seen in various statistics. In 2019, the US box office grossed $11.4 billion. In 2020, due to the pandemic, the box office gross plummeted to $2.2 billion, an 81% decline from the previous year.

Is streaming more popular than movie theaters?

By June 2020, the percentage of adults who strongly preferred seeing a movie in a theater fell to 14%, with 36% choosing to stream movies instead. For better or worse, streaming has significantly impacted the film industry in terms of how films are produced and distributed and how audiences consume them.

What age group goes to movie theaters the most?

OF POPULATION

Moviegoers age 18-24 and 25-39 made up the bulk of frequent moviegoers in 2016, 38% percent, compared to 21% for frequent moviegoers aged 2-17, according to the chart titled “Most Frequent Moviegoers by Age Group.” However, youths aged 12-17 make up 13% of that 21%, or 62%.

Why is theater still popular today?

Many community theaters foster friendships, and it's common for people to audition at one for the social aspect. Theater and dance can be that "third space" away from work or home we all need. Additionally, community theater provides an opportunity for passionate and talented people to share their skills with others.

Do cinemas have a future?

Overall, the future of cinema and theatrical distribution is likely to be shaped by a combination of these and other factors. The industry will need to be innovative and adaptable to meet the changing needs and preferences of audiences.

Do movie Theatres still make money?

Movie theaters receive approximately 40% of each ticket sold. They also make money from concessions, which help to pay for the overhead expenses. Such as employee salaries, rent, maintenance, and cleaning. Movie theaters originate their income from numerous sources.

Do movie theaters do well in a recession?

Historically, yes. The film industry has worn the label “Recession Proof” since the Great Depression. The general psychology of it has been that when times get tough, entertainment and mental oases are more important than ever, and people will cut back in other places. Why do stocks drop during recession?

What is the outlook for the movie theater industry?

Movie Theaters in the US industry analysis. Demand for movie theaters will significantly decline through the end of 2023 as a result of intense competition from online streaming platforms. The industry experienced its largest drop in performance amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which fueled at-home viewership.

What happens to old movie theaters?

Once grandiose palaces with domed ceilings and ornate plasterwork, hundreds of movie theaters—from New York to Detroit to Hollywood—now stand in ruins. Many others have been converted into nightclubs and bingo halls, churches and bookstores.

Do movie theaters use film anymore?

In most cases, movie theaters are no longer using the traditional film format for showing movies. Since the early 2000s, digital projectors have been the industry standard around the world. As movie projection technology advances, older methods such as film slowly become more and more obsolete.

Is Theatre attendance declining?

Whether it's due to the new technology advancements and the efficiency of staying home, or the overall feeling of staying in to watch some classics, 49% of movie goers aren't attending anymore, following the pandemic. During COVID-19, people stayed home to watch movies due to being quarantined.

Which generation watches the most movies?

Now (2022)

Today, Gen Z adults place a much higher value on movies and TV. Nearly half (49%) say movies are important or a passion.

Who is the target audience for cinemas?

Different films, different people

They provide a disproportionately large amount of a cinema's annual income and they generally appeal strongly to the youth audience (16-24 year olds).

Will Netflix replace movie theater?

Netflix isn't killing movie theaters: Viewers who stream more also go to cinemas more. Streaming services are not disrupting movie theaters. At CinemaCon in Las Vegas last week, movie distributors and theater owners alike say there is little to fear from a growing population of streaming services.

Is movie viewership declining?

Can Movies Get Them Back? The 2022 box office reflects more than a revenue problem; it has a butts-in-seats problem.

Where do people watch movies nowadays?

Movies can be watched either at home or in the available theaters. Therefore, one has to choose whether to stream movies alone at home or go to a movie theater with friends and family.

When did cinema decline?

While cinemas had some success in fighting the competition of television, they never regained the position and influence they held in the 1930s and 40s, and over the next 30 years audiences dwindled. By 1984 cinema attendances in Britain had declined to one million a week.

When was the peak of movie theaters?

The late 1920s saw the peak of the movie palace, with hundreds opening every year between 1925 and 1930. With the advent of television, movie attendance dropped, while the rising popularity of large multiplex chains in the 1980s and 1990s signaled the obsolescence of single-screen theaters.

Why are movie theaters so dark?

Mostly to adjust your eyes to the theater experience. You're in a relatively dark room with very little outside light coming into it. Your eyes will adjust a lot better in dim, low light before being exposed to the images you're about to see on the screen.