Cinema crowds return as movie season kicks off strong

A Rebound Fueled by Big-Screen Blockbusters

The Easter weekend saw a dramatic resurgence in cinema attendance, with AMC Theatres registering its highest five-day ticket sales ever recorded. Over six million moviegoers flocked to AMC locations across the U.S. and ODEON Cinemas internationally from April 1–5, signaling a robust revival for Hollywood’s big-screen experience.

This surge came at a pivotal moment—just as Hollywood’s spring movie slate began unfolding—providing a much-needed morale boost for theater chains still recovering from years of pandemic disruptions.

The Undisputed Champion: The Super Mario Bros. Movie

The undisputed box office king of the weekend was The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which raked in $372 million globally in its opening weekend. The family-friendly spectacle, powered by the beloved Nintendo brand, drew hordes of children and parents eager to experience the vibrant, action-packed adventure on the biggest screen possible.

AMC also benefited from nostalgic crowd-pleasers, with consistent turnout for titles like Project Hail Mary and Hoppers, while fresh dramas entered the market to keep the lineup diverse.

Merchandise Madness: Popcorn Buckets Fly Off Shelves

The film’s merchandise tie-ins became a sensation—particularly themed popcorn buckets shaped like Yoshi and glowing "Luma" designs—which became AMC’s second-most successful merchandise campaign ever.

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Cautious Optimism: Wall Street Remains Skeptical

While the weekend’s performance is a strong vote of confidence in theaters, Wall Street analysts remain wary. Most have assigned AMC a "Hold" rating, with an average price target of just $1.78 per share—suggesting they don’t yet see a dramatic, sustained recovery.

Yet, the numbers don’t lie: when a big, universally appealing film drops, theaters can still pack them in.