Who says young people don’t go to the movies?
During the pandemic, Hollywood worried that Gen Zers would never get into the habit of going to theaters, preferring streaming on their smartphones instead. But Gen Z is now the most active cinemagoing demographic, attending more films per year than their elders, according to a new Fandango study. They’re also spending more per visit on concessions and on premium format screens like Imax.
What a relief for theater owners, who are struggling as overall attendance lags 20% behind pre-COVID years. Exhibitors largely attribute the decline to fewer new releases from major Hollywood studios. Fandango surveyed 7,000 adults — 5,091 of whom considered themselves moviegoers, or people who went to one or more movies in the past year. By generation, 87% of Gen Zers and 82% of millennials saw at least one movie theatrically in the past 12 months, compared with 70% of Gen Xers and 58% of baby boomers. Gen Z and millennials also returned more frequently, with each demo averaging about seven visits per year, ahead of Gen X (6.1) and baby boomers (5.7).
Motivations varied across age groups. Millennials treat moviegoing as an escape from daily routine, while Gen Z sees it primarily as a social activity. Gen Z also attributes a better selection of movies and the appeal of leaving the home as key drivers of attendance. In contrast, Gen X cites rising ticket prices, fewer appealing releases, and better at-home options as reasons for going less often.
“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, executive 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.”
by mobpiecedunchaindan
5 Comments
So if box office returns are overall down (they are) and it’s mostly younger people going (the claim), then the solution is catering to older folks?
This isn’t good news. Now, when I go to theaters, it’s full of GenZ on their phones while the movie is on, scrolling through apps, taking selfies, playing games with the brightness way up, or having full conversations with each other. I’d rather them not be there. The majority of them don’t know how to behave in a movie theater. This isn’t your couch at home.
thank u letterboxd
It’s important to invest in properties that appeal to our generation and younger. Stop rebooting dead properties like Ghostbusters and Tron, and start adapting IPs that can drive up numbers for theaters and studios like Minecraft, FNAF, and Nintendo movies.
Please make a movie about him:
They don’t have a bunch of kids to drain them dry either.
