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The movie theatre industry is finding its stride after weathering a series of disruptions in recent years. After facing immense challenges and dealing with the ripple effects of the 2023 Hollywood strikes, the sector is now demonstrating signs of a meaningful recovery. Over the 2025 Memorial Day weekend (through May 26), operators including AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. AMC, Cinemark Holdings, Inc. CNK, and The Marcus Corporation MCS reported record-breaking performance, hinting at a broader recovery for the exhibition business. Industry fundamentals suggest a strong path forward, driven by revitalized content pipelines, evolving consumer habits and strategic operational refinements.
Theater Stocks Gain
Following the record-setting weekend, shares of major operators have moved higher, reflecting renewed investor optimism. Shares of Marcus Corporation, Cinemark and AMC Entertainment have gained 10.1%, 3.8% and 23.8%, respectively, on May 27. The box office surge comes at a time when operators are actively adapting their strategies. According to industry executives, improving content pipelines and higher-margin offerings like IMAX, Dolby Cinema and upscale seating are helping restore profitability.
Marcus Corporation reported record-breaking results over Memorial Day weekend, marking its best performance in box office revenue, attendance, concessions, food and beverage sales, and per capita spending. The success was driven by the debuts of Lilo & Stitch and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, along with continued strong performance from Final Destination: Bloodlines, Thunderbolts, and Sinners. Moviegoers from across 17 states flocked to theatres to enjoy both the blockbuster film lineup and the chain’s premium amenities, including luxury recliner seating and large-format screens such as UltraScreen DLX, SuperScreen DLX, ScreenX and IMAX.
Cinemark set several new records over the Memorial Day weekend, including its highest-ever four-day domestic box office and strongest food and beverage performance for the holiday. The debut of Lilo & Stitch marked its best Memorial Day opening to date, contributing to the seventh-highest three-day domestic box office weekend in the company’s history. Additionally, premium offerings saw standout success, with Cinemark XD delivering its top Memorial Day weekend ever and D-BOX motion seats recording their best three-day performance.
AMC Entertainment reported record-breaking results over the 2025 Memorial Day holiday weekend from May 22 through May 26. The company achieved its highest-ever Memorial Day weekend figures for admissions revenue, food and beverage sales, and total revenues across its domestic theatres. The results were part of a broader upswing in the theatrical industry, fueled by the strong performances of Lilo & Stitch and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. These films drew large audiences to AMC’s premium screen formats, including IMAX, Dolby Cinema, and RealD 3D. CEO Adam Aron noted that the results signal a sustained return to in-theatre moviegoing, crediting the combination of high-quality films and AMC’s focus on immersive viewing experiences.