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Entertainment 2026

Film & Box Office Statistics

Box office revenue, streaming viewership, production budgets, and market trends shaping the film and entertainment industry in 2026.

30 curated statistics with source citations

$8.6B
US Domestic Box Office
$35B
Global Box Office (Proj.)
$200M+
Avg Tentpole Budget
1.24B
Tickets Sold (US)

The film industry is experiencing a complex transformation as theatrical releases and streaming platforms compete for audience attention. The domestic box office reached $8.6 billion in 2025, with projections pointing to $9.8 billion in 2026 as franchise properties and original IP continue to drive theater attendance.

Meanwhile, the global box office is projected to surpass $35 billion in 2026, with international markets — particularly China and India — playing an increasingly important role. IP-driven tentpole releases continue to dominate, but the success of original films signals growing audience appetite for diverse storytelling.

These statistics cover box office performance, streaming trends, production economics, and the evolving business models that define modern filmmaking.

Box Office Revenue

Theatrical revenue continues its recovery and growth trajectory.

$8.6 billion

US domestic box office revenue in 2025.

$9.8 billion

Projected US domestic box office revenue for 2026.

$33.4 billion

Global box office revenue in 2025.

$35 billion

Projected global box office revenue for 2026.

1.24 billion

Estimated US theater admissions (tickets sold) in 2025.

$11.14

Average US movie ticket price in 2025, a 4% increase from 2024.

Franchise & IP Performance

How established intellectual properties dominate the box office.

8 of 10

Top-10 highest-grossing films of 2025 were sequels, remakes, or franchise installments.

$200 million+

Average production budget for major franchise tentpole releases.

$150-$250 million

Typical global marketing spend for tentpole franchise releases.

73%

Of total domestic box office revenue generated by franchise/IP-based films in 2025.

$1 billion+

Global gross achieved by 5 films in 2025, all franchise properties.

3.1x

Average return on production investment for successful franchise films vs. 1.8x for originals.

Streaming vs. Theatrical

How streaming platforms compete with and complement theatrical releases.

$42 billion

Combined annual content spending by the top 5 streaming platforms (Netflix, Disney+, Amazon, Apple TV+, Max).

45 days

Average theatrical-to-streaming window for major studio releases in 2025.

232 million

Netflix global subscriber count, the largest streaming platform.

67%

Of US households subscribe to at least one streaming service.

38%

Of all US TV viewing time spent on streaming platforms.

83%

Of films released in 2025 went directly to streaming without a theatrical release.

International Markets

The growing importance of global audiences for film revenue.

74%

Of global box office revenue that comes from international (non-US) markets.

$7.4 billion

China's domestic box office revenue in 2025, the world's second-largest market.

$1.9 billion

India's box office revenue in 2025, driven by Hindi and regional language films.

42%

Of major Hollywood releases where international gross exceeds domestic.

$2.1 billion

South Korea and Japan combined box office revenue in 2025.

12%

Annual growth rate of the Indian box office market, the fastest-growing major territory.

Production & Industry Employment

The economic footprint of film production.

2.74 million

Jobs supported by the US film and television industry.

$190 billion

Total economic output of the US film and TV industry.

400+

Original scripted series produced for US television and streaming in 2025.

$5-$15 million

Typical production budget for an independent film.

18 months

Average time from greenlight to theatrical release for a major studio film.

$12.7 billion

Production spending in US states with film tax incentives in 2025.

Methodology

Film industry statistics are sourced from Box Office Mojo, Comscore, the MPAA (Motion Picture Association), NATO (National Association of Theatre Owners), and trade publications including Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.

Box office figures represent reported gross revenue in USD. International market data is converted at prevailing exchange rates. Streaming subscriber counts are platform-reported. All statistics include source citations and years.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big is the US box office?
The US domestic box office generated $8.6 billion in 2025, with approximately 1.24 billion tickets sold. The average ticket price rose to $11.14. The market is projected to reach $9.8 billion in 2026.
What is the global box office revenue?
Global box office revenue reached $33.4 billion in 2025 and is projected to surpass $35 billion in 2026. International markets account for 74% of global revenue, with China ($7.4B) as the second-largest market.
How much do studios spend on tentpole films?
Major franchise films typically cost $200 million+ to produce and $150-$250 million for global marketing. Successful franchise films average a 3.1x return on production investment, compared to 1.8x for original films.
How long is the theatrical-to-streaming window?
The average theatrical-to-streaming window for major releases is 45 days in 2025. However, 83% of all films released go directly to streaming without a theatrical run.
What percentage of the box office is from franchise films?
Franchise and IP-based films generated 73% of total domestic box office revenue in 2025. Eight of the top-10 highest-grossing films were sequels, remakes, or franchise installments.
How many people work in the film industry?
The US film and television industry supports 2.74 million jobs and generates $190 billion in total economic output. Production spending in states with film tax incentives reached $12.7 billion in 2025.
How is streaming affecting theatrical releases?
Streaming platforms spent a combined $42 billion on content in 2025. 67% of US households subscribe to at least one streaming service, and streaming now accounts for 38% of all US TV viewing time.
Last updated: February 12, 2026

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