The U.S. box office is seeing its highest returns since 2019, however audience attendance is still very much down from the pre-Covid era. Higher ticket prices have driven the revenue of this year's tentpole films:

quote:
Theaters sold an estimated 470.9 million tickets through the first 30 weeks of 2026, compared ?with 747.3 million ?during the same stretch of 2019, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.

"Revenue growth for exhibitors for a long ?while now has been mostly driven by increases in average ticket price along with increases in concession prices," said S&P Global Market Intelligence analyst Wade Holden.

Data from research firm Placer.ai, which tracks foot traffic, shows a similar pattern. When measured through July, U.S. theater attendance is up 8.1% this year compared with 2025, but down 27% against 2019 levels.

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Posted by Rize

Spring Texas

Member since Sep 2011

19726 posts

Posted on 8/6/26 at 6:25 pm to RollTide1987

Now that I have a theater room I mainly wait for stuff out on rental and then wait for it to drop to $5.99. Rarely will I rent one for $19.99.

I think I’ve seen 1 movie this year in the theater and it was the last Statham movie. I am going to see Super Troopers 3 tomorrow and will see Mutiny in a couple weeks.

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Posted by NighthawkDawg

Member since Jun 2026

344 posts

Posted on 8/6/26 at 6:35 pm to RollTide1987

COVID and steaming have really done a number on theaters but it is nice to see the number go up from last year

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Posted by Geauxgurt

Member since Sep 2013

13630 posts

Posted on 8/6/26 at 7:19 pm to RollTide1987

But these movies are bringing back the theatre…….

Reality is they just doubled the price on tickets and some people are willing to pay that for the “experience”.

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Posted by CatfishJohn

Member since Jun 2020

21893 posts

Posted on 8/6/26 at 7:22 pm to Rize

quote:
Now that I have a theater room I mainly wait for stuff out on rental and then wait for it to drop to $5.99. Rarely will I rent one for $19.99. I think I’ve seen 1 movie this year in the theater and it was the last Statham movie. I am going to see Super Troopers 3 tomorrow and will see Mutiny in a couple weeks.

I just buy them for 24.99

I’ve got a huge library now, hopefully they don’t disappear one day