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Gen Z Leads Theatrical Rebound, Cinema United Report Finds

The trade group warns streaming consolidation could jeopardize theatrical gains.

Overview

  • Gen Z moviegoing rose 25% year over year in 2025, averaging 6.1 visits, with 41% seeing six or more films.
  • Seventy-seven percent of Americans ages 12–74 saw at least one movie in theaters, while habitual moviegoers increased 8% from 2024.
  • Exhibitors invested over $1.5 billion in North American theater upgrades as new loyalty-program subscriptions grew 15%.
  • Anime, video-game adaptations and horror—including A Minecraft Movie, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle and Five Nights at Freddy’s 2—helped drive youth turnout.
  • Cinema United warned that Netflix’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. threatens theatrical-first distribution and urged regulatory scrutiny, noting attendance remains about 23% below 2019.