Shares of movie theater chains surged on Tuesday after a historic Memorial Day Weekend at the U.S. box office, with total ticket sales reaching a record-breaking $326 million, according to Comscore.
AMC Entertainment led the rally with a 23% jump in stock price, while Marcus Corporation, parent of Marcus Theatres, climbed 10%. Cinemark shares rose nearly 4%.
All three chains reported their best Memorial Day weekend earnings ever — not just in ticket sales, but also in food and beverage revenue.
The box office windfall was driven by blockbuster releases including Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch ($183 million), Paramount’s Mission Impossible — The Final Reckoning ($77 million), Final Destination Bloodlines ($23.9 million), Marvel’s Thunderbolts ($11.8 million), and Warner Bros.’ Sinners ($11 million).
The $326 million haul more than doubled last year’s $132 million over the same weekend, highlighting renewed audience enthusiasm for theaters.
With major upcoming summer releases like How to Train Your Dragon, Pixar’s Elio, Jurassic World Rebirth, Warner Bros.’ Superman, and Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the momentum is expected to continue.
The season will also feature a diverse mix of smaller films across various genres, promising a packed summer for moviegoers and a hopeful outlook for theaters.
