Summer: the most important time frame for the theatrical movie-going sector.
Why? The 18 week period accounts for an average of 40% of the total year’s box office revenue. That’s a big chunk of change.
The good news is that we will set a new seasonal record in 2011, although attendance will be at the third lowest level since 1997. Higher average ticket prices as boosted by the 3-D premium sent revenues skyward but attendance was nowhere near the record levels set back in 2002.
Nonetheless, the theater-going experience has still managed to hold its own against the continuing onslaught of competing technologies and content delivery options. The fact that the industry delivered the highest grossing weekend of all-time with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 proves that people still love to go out to the movies in the summer.
Below is our historical (yet snazzy) breakdown of the performance of summer movie seasons. Questions?
