As someone who grew up in the era of VHS tapes and blockbuster video stores, it’s heartening to see that the love for movies is still alive and thriving among the younger generation. The National Association of Theatre Owners’ report on moviegoers has put my worries about the future of cinema to rest. I remember saving up allowance just to rent a movie or go to the theater, and it seems Gen Z shares the same passion!

It’s been questioned whether children have lost interest in movies these days. However, findings from the National Association of Theatre Owners’ latest report, “The Strength of Theatrical Moviegoing,” suggest otherwise. In fact, it appears that Generation Z is quite fond of cinema: among individuals aged 10 to 24, going to a movie on its opening weekend ranks as their top preferred activity, regardless of budget constraints.

Key points from the report show that approximately 85% of movie enthusiasts anticipate attending movies as frequently or even more so in 2025 compared to their attendance in 2024. Moreover, a significant 72% of respondents surveyed across 14 nations expressed their intention to visit cinemas either more frequently or the same amount as they did six months ago. Additionally, it’s worth noting that among Americans aged 12-74, an impressive 76% have watched at least one film in a theater this year. Lastly, there has been a noticeable increase of 12% in new subscriptions to loyalty programs from the year 2023 to 2024.

A significant number of Gen Z viewers, both male and female, are frequent cinema-goers, with approximately 90% of females and 89% of males attending at least one movie each year, according to NRG data. Interestingly, while males ranked movies as their second favorite pastime, trailing behind video games.

Simultaneously, the report highlights that Hispanic cinema-goers remain dedicated enthusiasts of movie-watching, with a propensity of 11% higher to watch a film on its opening weekend compared to the average audience. Furthermore, around one-quarter (27%) of Hispanic movie fans attend at least six movies annually.

In the coming year, it is anticipated that a larger number of films will be released in at least 2,000 cinemas across the United States, rising from about 95 locations in 2024 to around 110 locations in 2025. Moreover, a significant proportion of these movies are expected to be shown on larger screens, as there will be nearly 37% more large-format screens globally compared to five years ago.

Every week, the performance of filmed entertainment is assessed based on ticket sales at the box office. However, this longstanding practice doesn’t provide a complete understanding of the industry’s health or the exhibition sector,” stated NATO Chief Michael O’Leary. “To truly evaluate the robustness of theatrical exhibition, one needs to look beyond weekly earnings. In this analysis, we’ve collaborated with various research partners to present five key indicators that, when considered alongside box office figures, can help measure the strength of the exhibition industry.

Additionally, NATO mentioned that cinema operators plan to invest over $2.2 billion in upgrades related to sound quality, projection systems, and other aspects within the next three years.

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2024-12-19 04:16