The nation’s third and fourth largest theater chains, Cinemark and Marcus Theatres, both posted upbeat earnings amid a long-awaited box office recovery.
Plano, Texas-based Cinemark saw sales rise 15% to $1.1 billion for the June quarter, a milestone for the company, on rising admissions and concession sales as the CEO applauded “our studio partners for delivering such a fulsome and compelling slate of films that meaningfully connected with audiences.”
Cinemark shares are up over 4% in early trading on the report, which saw net income of $139 million was up from $94 million for an EPS of $1.19 vs $0.63.
“Our achievements reflect the significant progress we’ve made enhancing our consumer offerings, scaling revenue opportunities and further optimizing our business, combined with the impact of solid operating rigor in a robust box office environment,” said CEO Sean Gamble.
AMC Entertainment and Imax both reported solid numbers last week.
Cinemark, a sector favorite on Wall Street with a strong balance sheet, said it’s been picking up market share since Covid and that domestic box office results surpassed North American industry growth by over 200 basis points year-over-year. International admissions outpaced comparable industry benchmarks by 500 basis points year-over-year.
The company generated record quarterly admissions revenue of $540 million worldwide and concession revenue of $433 million.
At smaller Marcus, based in Milwaukee, revenues rose to $151 million for the June quarter, up 14%. Operating income surged 70% to $27 million.
“It is a great time to be a moviegoer, with a steady slate of compelling films bringing audiences of all ages together at the movies,” said division president Jeffry Tomachek. (Marcus also owns a sizeable hotel business.)
Marcus Theatres’ top five highest-performing films were The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Michael, Toy Story 5, Obsession and Backrooms
The third quarter continues strong led by the massive success of The Odyssey; strong pre-sales for Spider-Man: Brand New Day; continued carry-over excitement for Toy Story 5; and additional family-friendly films such as Minions & Monsters and Moana.
“With many more highly anticipated films expected through the end of the year, 2026 is shaping up to be a memorable year for moviegoing,” Tomachek said, noting upcoming Super Troopers 3, Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie, Insidious: Out of the Further, Practical Magic 2, Resident Evil, Forgotten Island, Digger, Verity, Other Mommy, The Social Reckoning, Street Fighter, The Cat in the Hat, Godzilla Minus Zero, Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, Hexed, Focker-In-Law, Dune: Part Three, Avengers: Doomsday, The Angry Birds Movie 3 and Jumanji: Open World.
Both companies are hosting calls with analysts this morning.