The number of U.S. movie screens continued to decline in 2022 while the cost of moviegoing went up, according to data report released by the Cinema Foundation.
Last year, there were 39,007 movie screens across the country, down 5.3% from the 41,172 screens in pre-pandemic 2019. However, while there are fewer venues, there are more movies in theaters ”“ 107 titles are scheduled for a 2023 release in 2,000 or more theaters, up from 71 last year. But moviegoers will be paying more to see these films ”“ the average ticket price was $10.53 last year, a new record.
“Box office, on a film-by-film basis, has rebounded to 2019 levels, limited only by the number of wide releases in the marketplace,” said the Cinema Foundation report. “The number of wide releases in 2023 is more than 40% higher than 2022 and approaching the number of wide releases in 2019. Moviegoing remains affordable, with today”™s average ticket price ”“ despite a clear trend of audiences leaning towards premium formats ”“ costing less than the average inflation- adjusted ticket price in 1971.”
