Streaming Surpasses Theaters as Americans’ Preferred way to Watch Movies
WASHINGTON – A new poll reveals a significant shift in moviegoing habits, with streaming services now the dominant choice for watching films among Americans, driven by convenience and cost. the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found a growing preference for at-home viewing, impacting the traditional cinema experience.
The trend is especially pronounced among younger adults and those with lower incomes.While the North American box office is currently showing a slight increase – up over 4% from last year – it remains more than 22% below pre-pandemic levels (2019).
“It’s much more convenient,” said New Jersey resident, Sarah Jenkins.”I can watch anything I want, I just have to wait a month or two after the movies are released because they usually go to streaming pretty quickly.”
Cost is a major factor for many. maryneal jones, 91, of North Carolina, explained, “There’s some movies I would like to see, and I say to myself, I’ll just wait until they show them on TV or I’ll go visit a friend who has those apps. But I just don’t want to pay 12 bucks.”
Data from EntTelligence confirms the financial pressure, reporting an average U.S. movie ticket price of $13.10, up from $11.76 in 2022. The AP-NORC poll also indicates streaming offers more accessible entertainment options for lower-income Americans, with the gap in theatre attendance between higher and lower earners shrinking when it comes to streaming.
Young adults are leading the charge toward streaming. less than half of those under 30 report watching recently released movies on streaming services at least once a month, compared to roughly 2 in 10 who do so in theaters.
Despite the rise of streaming, interest in premium cinematic experiences like IMAX and other large-format screens remains, particularly for blockbuster events like “Sinners” and “oppenheimer.” though, the overall trend points to a lasting change in how Americans consume movies.
source: Facts for this report was gathered from The Associated Press and NORC at the University of Chicago.
