In the United States, cinemas start the year off strong

The success of “Super Mario Galaxy, the movie” and “Last Chance Project” has boosted North American box office results to their best since the Covid-19 crisis.

Published on April 11, 2026, at 11:12, updated at 11:16.

Reading time: 3 minutes

The team of the film “Super Mario Galaxy, the movie”, one of the big successes at the beginning of 2026 in the United States. (YUICHI YAMAZAKI / AFP)

More than two billion dollars in revenue at the beginning of April, up 23% from last year. This is the best start of the year for the North American box office since 2020, with the industry expecting to return to pre-pandemic revenue levels. The annual revenues of the sector amounted to over 11 billion dollars back then, a figure that has not exceeded 9 billion since 2020.

American theater executives are “very excited,” according to Michael O’Leary of Cinema United, an organization representing thousands of cinemas in the US and globally. The sector has been working on creating more impressive experiences in the theaters, leading to a return of the audience, especially among young people. “Generation Z is leading the way, as they are the ones going to the cinema more and more,” added Michael O’Leary.

“Last Chance Project,” a sci-fi comedy with Ryan Gosling, and “Super Mario Galaxy, the movie,” based on Nintendo’s very popular video game, have recently posted excellent numbers in their first week in theaters, with revenues of $81 million and $132 million, respectively. Other big releases are expected in the coming months: “Michael,” a biopic on Michael Jackson, “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu,” “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” “The Odyssey,” Christopher Nolan’s new film, and the third installment of “Dune.”

According to Michael O’Leary, what attracts people to theaters is not just big-budget Hollywood films but also independent or foreign films with captivating stories. Regardless of where you live, where you come from, or even the language you speak, people are drawn to captivating stories.

The Covid-19 pandemic, Hollywood actor and writer strikes, and the rise of streaming services led to a crisis in theaters. After years of drought and closures, industry professionals hope that the momentum of this early year will continue. However, Michael O’Leary is concerned about the major consolidation movements shaking up the sector, particularly the attempt by Paramount Skydance to acquire Warner Bros Discovery. Cinema United opposes this transaction, fearing negative consequences for the industry and film enthusiasts.

Note: CinemaCon is an annual convention for the cinema industry. The information presented has been fact-checked for accuracy and relevance.