AMC movies draw record May attendance with 25.5M guests

AMC movies drew 25.5 million guests across its U.S. and international locations during May 2026, marking the strongest May attendance for the theater chain since 2019. The milestone reflects robust moviegoing momentum driven by a diverse slate of blockbuster releases that resonated with audiences seeking the theatrical experience.

Strong Box Office Slate Fuels Theater Traffic

The surge in AMC movies attendance reflects a particularly robust slate of theatrical releases throughout May. “Backrooms” led the recent weekend with a $81 million domestic opening, becoming the sixth film in ten weeks to debut above $75 million domestically. Other major releases driving traffic included “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” “Michael,” “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” and “Project Hail Mary.” The diverse mix of established franchises and new intellectual property created appeal across multiple audience demographics, keeping theaters consistently packed throughout the month.

Sustained Momentum Through May

AMC Entertainment chairman and CEO Adam Aron highlighted the consistency of 2026’s strong performance. The company noted that “Obsession” demonstrated rare staying power by increasing its domestic box office gross for multiple consecutive weekends—an exceptional achievement for wide theatrical releases. The Memorial Day weekend period proved particularly strong, with 4.2 million moviegoers attending AMC and ODEON locations from Thursday through Sunday, signaling sustained audience enthusiasm heading into summer.

Looking Ahead: A Packed Summer Schedule

Aron expressed confidence in AMC’s outlook based on an upcoming lineup of anticipated releases. The company expects strong attendance through the rest of 2026, with titles including “Scary Movie” (June 5), “Masters of the Universe” (June 5), “Disclosure Day” (June 12), “Toy Story 5” (June 19), “Supergirl” (June 26), and “Minions & Monsters” (July 1) on the horizon. The breadth of upcoming content—combining established franchises with new properties—suggests theaters may sustain strong attendance momentum through the summer season and beyond.

Sources

• AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. — Official press release detailing May 2026 attendance figures, weekend performance, and upcoming film slate
• Yahoo Finance — Coverage of AMC’s record May attendance announcement
• MarketWatch — Reporting on AMC’s highest May attendance since 2019