The US and Canadian movie theater market has seen a significant resurgence over the past two months, with box office revenue exceeding pre-pandemic levels. A combination of new releases and a wider variety of films has contributed to this turnaround.
Six different movies collected $252 million in ticket sales between May 1st and May 30th, up from $92 million last year. The top-grossing film was Disney’s live-action “Lilo & Stitch” remake, which debuted as a surprise hit and initially planned for streaming release.
The recent box office turnaround is attributed to studios releasing more films at the theater, with a 25% increase in wide releases compared to last year. Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” and Tom Cruise’s “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” were two of the top-performing films, with “Lilo & Stitch” taking the lead.
Theaters credit a steady stream of new movies as the primary reason for the recovery. Competition from streaming services has been a challenge, but studios are adapting by offering a range of genres and flavors to attract audiences.
Industry experts believe that as long as there is a consistent flow of new content, theaters will remain viable. “Moviegoing is habitual,” said Greg Marcus, CEO of the Marcus Corporation. “You go one weekend and have a good time, and you see trailers for what’s coming next.”
The diverse range of films has helped to boost box office revenue, with something to appeal to every taste. As David A. Gross noted, “The industry is doing what it does best – offering something for every taste.”
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/25/business/media/lilo-stitch-mission-impossible-sinners-box-office.html