Table of Contents
Executive Summary
-
- The market
- Moderate growth expected
-
- Figure 1: Total US sales and fan chart forecast of movie theater revenues, at current prices, 2010-20
- Concessions and advertising to lead segment growth
-
- Figure 2: Total US movie theater revenues and forecast, by segment, at current prices, 2010-20
- The issues
- Theaters must innovate to stay relevant
-
- Figure 3: Annual movie ticket sales, 2000-15
- The majority of respondents prefer home viewing
-
- Figure 4: Attitudes toward movie theater alternatives, August 2015
- Theater selection is all about convenience
-
- Figure 5: Factors impacting movie theater choice, August 2015
- The opportunities
- Appeal to key demographics
-
- Figure 6: Movie attendance in the last six months by gender, age, race/Hispanic origin, and household income, August 2015
- Movie theaters can re-anchor prices in the minds of consumers
-
- Figure 7: Reasons for not attending the movies, August 2015
- Regain lost revenue through new business models
- What it means
The Market – What You Need to Know
-
- Expectation for moderate growth, driven by ancillary revenues
- Concessions and in-theater advertising are leading market segments
- Increased competition dampens attendance
- Revenue sharing may benefit studios and theaters alike
- Population factors and leisure spending an advantage for theaters
Market Size and Forecast
-
- Expectation for moderate revenue growth
-
- Figure 8: Total US sales and fan chart forecast of movie theater revenues, at current prices, 2010-20
- Figure 9: Total US sales and forecast of movie theater revenues, at current prices, 2010-20
Market Breakdown
-
- Overview
-
- Figure 10: Total US movie theater revenues and forecast, by segment, at current prices, 2010-20
- Box office admissions to pace inflation
-
- Figure 11: Total US sales and fan chart forecast of movie theater box office revenues, at current prices, 2010-20
- Innovation key to concessions growth
-
- Figure 12: Total US sales and fan chart forecast of movie theater concessions revenues, at current prices, 2010-20
- Advertising revenues to climb
-
- Figure 13: Total US sales and fan chart forecast of movie theater advertising revenues, at current prices, 2010-20
- Ticket prices rise moderately
-
- Figure 14: Average US movie theater ticket prices, 2000-14
- New screening formats offset declining attendance
-
- Figure 15: US/Canada box office revenues, in billions, 2005-14
Market Perspective
-
- At-home viewing options continue to expand
- Shrinking release window spurs revenue sharing models
-
- Figure 16: Average video release window, in days, 2000-14
Market Factors
-
- Growth in Hispanic population will support per capita attendance
- Spending in leisure categories benefits theaters
Key Players – Overview
-
- Major chains control the bulk of US movie theaters
-
- Figure 17: Annual revenues for major theater groups, in millions, 2014
- Figure 18: Number of theaters and screens for major theater groups, 2014
Key Players
-
- Regal Entertainment Group
- AMC Entertainment
- Cinemark
- Carmike Cinemas
- National CineMedia brings FirstLook to 20,000 theaters
- Open Road Films supports AMC and Regal during ‘dump months’
Key Strategies – What You Need to Know
-
- Experience is all
- More than a movie
- Safety first
- Is 4D the next 3D?
Blockbusters – What’s Working
-
- Theaters’ investment in luxury seating reaps rewards
- Expanded theater menus improve concession revenues
- AMC Sensory Friendly Films
- Food and beverage kiosks lead to impulse purchases
- Special events attract super fans
Flops – What’s Struggling
-
- Ticket prices top out
- Theater safety top of mind
- DOJ investigates anti-competitive environment
- Risky environment breeds cautious movie-making
-
- Figure 19: Domestic and worldwide gross revenues from the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series, 2003-11
- Piracy threatens small-budget movies
Previews – What’s Next
-
- Gamers take over movie screens
- 4D movie theater Expansion
- Movie theater subscription services
- Crowd sourced screenings
The Consumer – What You Need to Know
-
- Majority of Americans have seen a movie in the last six months
- The closest movie theater wins
- Kids are influencers
- Friends are likely companions and a trusted resource for reviews
- Concessions are crucial
- Engaged moviegoers likely to use mobile apps
- High prices are an obstacle to frequent movie going
Movie Theater Attendance
-
- Attendance continues to wane
-
- Figure 20: Annual movie ticket sales, 2000-15
- The average American has gone to the movies in the last six months
- Studios and theaters focus on young audiences
-
- Figure 21: Top grossing films, by year, 2000-15*
- Household income has little impact on attendance
- Hispanic moviegoers likely to be frequent attendees
-
- Figure 22: Movie attendance in the last six months by gender, age, race, Hispanic origin, and household income, August 2015
- A third of moviegoers see 1-2 movies in a 6-month period
-
- Figure 23: Frequency of movie attendance in the last six months by age, August 2015
Choosing a Movie Theater
-
- Moviegoers look first for proximity
-
- Figure 24: Factors impacting movie theater choice, August 2015
- Men more apt to seek out specific screen formats
-
- Figure 25: Factors impacting movie theater choice, by gender, August 2015
- Black moviegoers look to avoid crowds
-
- Figure 26: Factors impacting movie theater choice, by race, August 2015
The Family Trip to the Movies
-
- Parents with young kids are likely moviegoers
-
- Figure 27: Frequency of movie-going, by parental status, August 2015
- Kids often decide which movie to see
-
- Figure 28: Kids’ movie attendance in the last three months, 2006-15
- Previews persuade kids 6-11
-
- Figure 29: Kids’ reasons for going to the movies, April 2014-June 2015
Reasons to Go to the Movies
-
- Adult moviegoers more likely to attend with a friend than with a date
-
- Figure 30: Reasons to go to the movies, by age, by marital status, August 2015
- Word of mouth inspires movie attendance
- Hispanic moviegoers anticipate opening weekend
- Blacks interested in films with specific actors
-
- Figure 31: Reasons to go to the movies, by Hispanic origin, by race, August 2015
Movie Theater Purchases
-
- The importance of popcorn
- A subscription model for theaters
-
- Figure 32: Select movie theater purchases – Have purchased and interested in purchasing, by gender, August 2015
- Household income and the premium movie experience
- Hispanic moviegoers spend on all the extras
-
- Figure 33: Select movie theater purchases, by Hispanic origin, August 2015
- Black consumers interested in movie theater dining
-
- Figure 34: Select movie theater purchases, by race, August 2015
- Mobile app usage correlated with purchases
-
- Figure 35: Select movie theater purchases, by app usage, August 2015
Encouraging Theater Attendance
-
- Ticket prices continue to be the primary barrier
- Opportunity for theaters to play match-maker
-
- Figure 36: Reasons for not attending the movies, August 2015
- The majority of people prefer home viewing
-
- Figure 37: Attitudes toward movie theater alternatives, by moviegoers and non-moviegoers, August 2015
- Television renaissance brings movie stars to the small screen
The Impact of Previews and Reviews
-
- Audience reviews are a trusted source
- Movie trailers delight moviegoers and non-moviegoers
-
- Figure 38: Attitudes toward movie reviews, by all and moviegoers, August 2015
Attitudes toward 3D and IMAX
-
- Recent moviegoers more willing to pay for 3D
-
- Figure 39: Attitudes toward 3D, by recency of movie attendance, August 2015
- Black moviegoers less familiar with IMAX format
-
- Figure 40: Attitudes toward 3D and IMAX, by race, August 2015
Key Drivers Analysis – Encouraging Frequent Attendance
-
-
- Figure 41: Key drivers of attitudes toward movies (any agree) – Odds ratio, B value, % agree, August 2015
- Figure 42: Key drivers of attitudes toward movies (any agree), August 2015
-
- Figure 43: Key drivers of attitudes toward movies (any disagree) – Odds ratio, B value, % disagree, August 2015
- Figure 44: Key drivers of attitudes toward movies (any disagree), August 2015
-
Appendix – Data Sources and Abbreviations
-
- Data sources
- Fan chart forecast
- Consumer survey data
- Key drivers methodology
- Abbreviations and terms
- Abbreviations
- Terms
Appendix – Market
-
-
- Figure 45: Total US sales and forecast of movie theater revenues, at current prices, 2010-20
- Figure 46: Total US box office revenues and forecast, at current prices, 2010-20
- Figure 47: Total US concession revenues and forecast, at current prices, 2010-20
- Figure 48: Total US movie theater advertising revenues and forecast, at current prices, 2010-20
-
- Figure 49: Total US revenues and forecast of other income categories, at current prices, 2010-20
- Figure 50: Market share of movie theater market segments, 2013-15
- Figure 51: Title of movie most recently seen, August 2015
-
Appendix – Key Players
-
-
- Figure 52: Domestic and worldwide gross revenues from the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series, 2003-11
- Figure 53: Annual US movie ticket sales, 2000-15
- Figure 54: Total domestic movie gross, US and Canada, by month, in millions, January 2014-December 2014
-
Appendix – Consumer
-
-
- Figure 55: Movie theater attendance among kids, 2006-15
-
- Figure 56: Teens reasons for going to the movies, April 2014-June 2015
-
- Figure 57: Movie theater companions for teens, April 2014-June 2015
-
Back to top