Who says younger folks don’t go to the flicks?
During the pandemic, Hollywood frightened that Gen Zers would by no means get into the behavior of going to theaters, preferring streaming on their smartphones as an alternative. But Gen Z is now probably the most lively cinemagoing demographic, attending extra movies per yr than their elders, in response to a brand new Fandango research. They’re additionally spending extra per go to on concessions and on premium format screens like Imax.
What a reduction for theater house owners, who’re struggling as general attendance lags 20% behind pre-COVID years. Exhibitors largely attribute the decline to fewer new releases from main Hollywood studios. Fandango surveyed 7,000 adults — 5,091 of whom thought-about themselves moviegoers, or individuals who went to a number of motion pictures prior to now yr. By technology, 87% of Gen Zers and 82% of millennials noticed at the least one film theatrically prior to now 12 months, in contrast with 70% of Gen Xers and 58% of child boomers. Gen Z and millennials additionally returned extra ceaselessly, with every demo averaging about seven visits per yr, forward of Gen X (6.1) and child boomers (5.7).
Motivations diverse throughout age teams. Millennials deal with moviegoing as an escape from each day routine, whereas Gen Z sees it primarily as a social exercise. Gen Z additionally attributes a greater choice of motion pictures and the attraction of leaving the house as key drivers of attendance. In distinction, Gen X cites rising ticket costs, fewer interesting releases, and higher at-home choices as causes for going much less typically.
“While there has been a perception that Gen Z is less engaged with theatrical moviegoing, our data shows that their momentum has been building,” says Jerramy Hainline, govt VP at Fandango. “What’s especially notable is how strongly they value the shared, communal aspect of the experience, reinforcing that theaters continue to play an important role as a social destination for younger audiences.”
Across all demographics, the most important barrier to getting off the sofa wasn’t the flicks themselves. Patrons cited coordinating schedules, discovering time and securing a deal on tickets as challenges in attending to the multiplex.
“As the moviegoing landscape continues to evolve, understanding generational behaviors is critical to unlocking future growth,” Hainline says. “Gen Z and millennials are redefining what it means to go to the movies by prioritizing premium experiences, social engagement and new forms of content. Meeting them where they are isn’t optional — it’s essential to the future of theatrical moviegoing.”
Although the primary quarter of 2026 has vastly improved from final yr, summer time will actually warmth up the field workplace, with 76% of moviegoers reportedly planning on seeing a film in theaters between May and August. According to Fandango’s findings, “Toy Story 5” is probably the most anticipated film of popcorn season, adopted by “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” and “Scary Movie 6.”
