What movie are you most excited to see this summer?
That’s one of the questions we asked more than 6,000 participants in Fandango’s 2024 Moviegoing Trends and Insights Study. We also asked about their moviegoing plans and what they’d like to see in theaters in the future.
Here’s what we learned:
- Summer 2024 is poised to welcome back cherished franchises, with Deadpool & Wolverine, Bad Boys: Ride or Die, and Despicable Me 4 leading the top 10 most anticipated summer movies list, providing something for audiences of all ages.
- Survey participants love the theatrical experience. There’s a new appetite for watching alternative content in theaters in addition to movies with comedy tours, concerts and sporting events leading the list.
- 2023’s “Barbenheimer” phenomenon reintroduced moviegoers to the double feature with 62% of general ticket buyers who saw both films expressing interest in seeing more movies back-to-back on the same day.
As summer approaches, over half of all moviegoers surveyed plan to see four or more movies in theaters. Motivators for summer moviegoing range from anticipating newly released blockbusters to spending quality time with family and friends, yet the most significant draw remains beating the summer heat.
The top 10 most anticipated summer movies are:
5. Inside Out 2
7. The Watchers
8. The Fall Guy
10. Borderlands
“2023 proved that fans have an enduring love for the theatrical experience, and 2024 is continuing the positive momentum as moviegoers can’t wait to see their favorite characters and franchises return to the big screen this summer,” said Jerramy Hainline, EVP of Fandango. “This past year underscored consumers’ appetite to watch different types of content in theaters, in addition to beloved films. This was evident with the success of concert films from Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, and our study uncovers that moviegoers want even more diverse content to experience on the big screen, which we think is a great opportunity for exhibitors.”
Fandango’s study uncovered that in addition to blockbuster and indie movies, alternative content is also appealing to moviegoers, with comedy tours, concert films, TV premieres/finales, and sporting events among the top events moviegoers would like to see in theaters. Additionally, 70% of parents stated they would be interested in experiencing sporting events on the big screen, such as the Super Bowl or Olympic events, the latter of which is already set to come to select theaters this summer. With an increasing interest in concert films, 77% of general ticket buyers who watched a concert film in 2023 said they were interested in seeing another concert film in 2024, with rock, pop, and hip hop/rap among the top three genres.
2023’s Barbie and Oppenheimer drew in 40% of general ticket buyers surveyed to watch both films in theaters on the same day, with 62% of those respondents saying they are interested in seeing multiple movies back-to-back if presented with special discounts and 75% saying they wish theaters sold movie ticket bundles. Premium formats contributed to the success of the big screen, with 74% of general ticket buyers who had previously seen at least one movie in a premium format stating that it makes the moviegoing experience more enjoyable, increasing to over 80% for Fandango ticket buyers.
Moviegoers agreed that the theatrical experience is incomplete without concessions as 96% of general ticket buyers surveyed confirmed they purchased concessions at the theater this past year. Just as ordering tickets in advance continues to rise in popularity, so is pre-ordering concessions, with 1 in 4 general ticket buyers saying they have tried pre-ordering concessions, and 97% saying they were satisfied with their experience.
As moviegoing satisfaction remains at an all-time high, strengthening loyalty remains essential as 83% of general ticket buyers claimed to be members of a free movie-related loyalty program - increasing to 88% among multicultural audiences and 90% among parents. Of those enrolled in a free loyalty program, 75% stated they were happy with the program showcasing impressive retention among these audiences. Additionally, 74% of general ticket buyers agreed that discounts and special offers on concessions were the top drivers that motivate theater attendance, increasing to 80% among parents.
