Box Office Rebounds, but Moviegoing Has Not Returned to Routine

The current movie year is the highest-grossing since 2019 and has produced the second-highest number of billion-dollar movies on record, with major releases and YouTube-originated projects performing strongly.

However, ticket sales remain well below prior levels, partly because higher ticket prices are lifting grosses. Moviegoing has shifted from a routine weekly habit to an event-driven choice competing with TikTok, YouTube, live sports, concerts and other entertainment. The movie business is feeling better than it has since theaters closed during the pandemic, but it remains uncertain whether the improvement is a temporary blip or the start of sustained growth.