Half of America Skipped the Movies in 2025, Pew Reveals Shocking Drop in Theater Attendance

With the Oscars around the corner, a new survey is shedding light on how Americans are returning to theaters — or not. The Pew Research Center found that just over half of U.S. adults, 53%, went to see a movie in a theater at least once in 2025. Surprisingly, 7% said they had never been to a theater at all.

The numbers show that the movie industry is still recovering from the massive declines during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, theater ticket sales dropped by 81% due to closures. By 2025, Americans and Canadians purchased 769.2 million tickets, far below the record 1.6 billion sold in 2002, according to Nash Information Services. Box office revenue has partially rebounded, with Comscore reporting $9 billion in U.S. ticket sales last year, but it is still below pre-pandemic levels.

Interestingly, a separate study by NRG/National Research Group in August 2025 found that 77% of Americans between ages 12 and 74 attended at least one movie in a theater during the year.

The survey also revealed that moviegoing habits vary by age and income. About two-thirds of adults aged 18 to 29 went to a theater, compared with only 39% of people 65 and older. Wealthier Americans reported the highest attendance at 64%, while lower-income adults were the least likely at 43%.

Race and ethnicity also played a role. Hispanic adults were the most likely to see a film in theaters at 59%, followed by white adults at 53% and Black adults at 49%. Gender did not make a major difference, with similar rates for men (53%) and women (54%). Political leanings showed a slight gap, with Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents attending more frequently at 58%, compared with 50% of Republicans and Republican-leaning respondents.

These numbers suggest that while people are returning to theaters, attendance is uneven and far from pre-pandemic levels. Younger adults and higher-income viewers are driving most of the recovery, leaving older and lower-income audiences behind.

This data shows just how much the film industry still needs to work to attract a wider audience. Theaters are no longer guaranteed to fill seats like they once did, and studios may need new strategies to reach people who have grown used to streaming at home. What do you think about Americans skipping theaters and the state of the box office? Share your thoughts in the comments.