Hollywood is celebrating its biggest opening weekend in U.S. box office history, fueled by the massive debuts of Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey . But behind the record-breaking numbers lies a surprising trend: fewer Americans are actually going to movie theaters.
The domestic box office is on track for its strongest year since the COVID-19 pandemic, yet theater attendance remains well below pre-pandemic levels. Instead of attracting larger crowds, the industry is increasingly relying on higher ticket prices, premium formats such as IMAX, and a handful of blockbuster releases to drive revenue.
