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Pew Survey Finds Only 53% of Americans Saw a Movie in Theaters in 2025

Studios are pivoting to event-style releases targeting younger, especially Hispanic, audiences to counter a box office still roughly 20% under pre‑pandemic norms.

Overview

  • The Pew Research Center reports 53% of U.S. adults attended a movie theater in the prior year, and 7% say they have never gone.
  • U.S. and Canada ticket sales reached 769.2 million in 2025, less than half the roughly 1.6 billion peak in 2002, with domestic revenue just over $9 billion.
  • Attendance skews young, with 67% of adults ages 18–29 going to theaters versus 39% of those 65 and older.
  • Income correlates with turnout: 64% of upper‑income adults attended compared with 57% of middle‑income and 43% of lower‑income respondents.
  • Hispanic adults reported the highest attendance at 59%, and recent industry commentary highlights eventized releases and targeted marketing as the clearest path to growth.