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AMC Theatres welcomed 25.5 million guests across its U.S. and international ODEON locations in May 2026, marking the highest attendance for any May since 2019. The milestone reflects a strong recovery for the cinema chain following a challenging 2025 that saw a 10% attendance decline in the fourth quarter.
Quick Facts
- 25.5 million guests attended AMC Theatres and ODEON Cinemas in May 2026
- Highest May attendance since 2019, the pre-pandemic benchmark
- 4.2 million attendees visited theaters during the May 28–31 weekend alone
- Six films opened above $75 million domestically in the past 10 weeks
A Turning Point After Pandemic Struggles
AMC Theatres faced a prolonged recovery from the pandemic’s impact on cinema attendance. In February 2026, the company reported a 10% drop in Q4 2025 attendance, falling to 56.3 million guests compared with 62.4 million in the same quarter the prior year. That decline signaled continued headwinds in the industry’s post-pandemic rebound. However, May 2026 reversed that trend decisively, demonstrating that a strong slate of blockbuster releases can drive moviegoers back to theaters in significant numbers.
Hollywood’s Blockbuster Momentum
The May attendance surge was fueled by a diverse lineup of major releases. According to AMC Entertainment‘s official statement, six films opened above $75 million domestically in the ten weeks leading up to the end of May 2026—including The Mandalorian and Grogu, The Devil Wears Prada 2, Michael, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Project Hail Mary, and Backrooms. The Backrooms film opened the final May weekend to $81 million domestically. This volume of high-performing releases created sustained demand, with even holdover titles like Obsession gaining ground in their second and third weekends—an exceptionally rare occurrence for wide theatrical releases.
AMC Theatres welcomes 25.5M guests in May, highest since 2019
AMC Theater attendance hits 25.5M in May, highest since 2019
What’s Ahead for AMC
AMC Chairman and CEO Adam Aron expressed confidence in the company’s outlook, citing the strength of upcoming releases. Over the next five weekends from early June, the chain will show Scary Movie, Masters of the Universe, Disclosure Day, Toy Story 5, Supergirl, and Minions & Monsters. Aron stated that the May results “reflect the strength of a diverse film slate, one that was driven both by established blockbusters with their well-known characters along with entirely new IP,” and emphasized that the “compelling movies coming to our screens in the weeks and months ahead” give the company confidence for the rest of 2026. The May milestone suggests that when Hollywood delivers quality releases with strong marketing, audiences respond—a critical signal for the theater industry’s long-term health.
Sources
- AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (Official Press Release) — May 2026 attendance figure of 25.5 million guests, weekend attendance of 4.2 million, film opening performance data, and CEO statement
- Yahoo Finance — Confirmation of 25.5 million guests and highest May attendance since 2019
- Variety — Q4 2025 attendance decline of 10%
- Media Play News — Q4 2025 attendance figure of 39.7 million guests
