Five million moviegoers flock to AMC locations as summer box office heats up
Category: Arts & Culture
AMC Entertainment has announced a record-breaking attendance of five million moviegoers at its theaters in the United States and Odeon Cinemas internationally during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, which spanned from Thursday, May 23, to Monday, May 27, 2026. This achievement marks the highest-attended Thursday-through-Monday period of the year for AMC, underscoring the continued momentum in the box office as the industry gears up for a busy summer season.
The standout performer of the weekend was Disney and Lucasfilm’s The Mandalorian and Grogu, which raked in approximately $82 million domestically over the three-day period and around $100 million when including Monday’s holiday. This film is notable for being the fifth release in the past two months to open above $75 million domestically, highlighting a growing trend of successful theatrical releases in 2026.
AMC also reported that merchandise sales during this weekend were the third-best in the company's history for an opening weekend, indicating a strong consumer interest in movie-themed products. In addition, Universal and Focus Features’ Obsession experienced a remarkable 30% increase in box office revenue week-over-week, bringing in $30 million during the same period.
AMC Entertainment, the largest theatrical exhibitor globally, has been experiencing a resurgence in attendance as audiences increasingly return to theaters. The company’s CEO, Adam Aron, commented on the significance of the Memorial Day weekend results, stating, "The Memorial Day holiday weekend once again demonstrated the power of the big screen experience. Just as important, the consistency we are seeing at the box office is unmistakable, with five films in the past two months alone opening above $75 million domestically." This statement reflects AMC's optimism about the current state of the film industry.
Historically, Memorial Day weekend has been a key time for moviegoing in the United States, often serving as a bellwether for the summer box office season. The success of films like The Mandalorian and Grogu boosts AMC's revenues and signals a positive trend for the industry as a whole. The strong performance of box office hits indicates that audiences are eager for quality entertainment after a challenging period for cinemas.
In the lead-up to the summer, AMC has a promising slate of upcoming releases, including titles like Scary Movie and Masters of the Universe on June 5, followed by Disclosure Day on June 12, Toy Story 5 on June 19, Supergirl on June 26, and Minions and Monsters on July 1. These upcoming films are expected to maintain the momentum seen over the Memorial Day weekend.
Looking ahead, AMC anticipates that the strong summer moviegoing season will continue, driven by a steady pipeline of major releases. The company’s recent performance suggests that moviegoers are willing to return to theaters when presented with appealing content. This trend is bolstered by the success of Project Hail Mary, which had the biggest opening weekend at AMC in 2026, pulling in over $140 million globally and contributing to AMC’s second-highest weekend of the year for admissions revenue.
Adam Aron has expressed confidence in the future of theatrical releases, emphasizing that the positive reception of films like Project Hail Mary demonstrates a strong demand for original storytelling. He stated, "Moviegoers’ overwhelmingly positive response to this movie combined with the track record of increasing box office throughout 2026 make us at AMC ever more confident that 2026 will wind up being the biggest year since 2019 for moviegoing in theatres." This sentiment reflects the optimism shared by many in the industry as they navigate the post-pandemic recovery.
As AMC continues to innovate and adapt to changing audience preferences, the company remains focused on enhancing the cinematic experience. With a commitment to offering a diverse range of films and improving guest engagement through loyalty programs and premium experiences, AMC is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing interest in theatrical releases.
As the summer box office heats up, the performance of upcoming films will be closely watched. The next major release, Scary Movie, is set to debut on June 5, 2026, and could play a key role in maintaining the positive momentum seen during the Memorial Day weekend.