Ellis Jacob, CEO of Cineplex, says young audiences are driving Hollywood’s box office rebound by heading back to the multiplex in big numbers.
“The big change is Gen Z are coming back to the movies in a big way, and that’s making a difference,” Jacob told The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday after the Canadian exhibitor posted second quarter financial results where Cineplex swung to a profit and higher overall revenues on box office draws like The Odyssey and Michael, in addition to younger audiences embracing breakout horror pics in Obsession and Backrooms.
The better news may be Gen Z are also ditching their phones when coming out to movies for outings with friends and family. “They’re tired of looking at the small screen. They’re going out on a social basis and having a good time and that to me is very positive,” Jacob added.
Gen Z are not only seeing movies a second or third time in theaters, but they have a range of platform options at Cineplex, from VIP auditoriums to premium screen experiences like the Imax, 4DX, Screen X and Ultra AVX platforms.
On Tuesday, Cineplex reported a record second quarter revenue up nearly 10 percent to $383.7 million as theater attendance rose 9.3 percent to 12.7 million patrons. And the company swung to net income at $7.8 million for the latest financial quarter, compared to a net loss of $2.2 million in the same period of 2025.
