11 Theatrical exhibition and audiences

The theatrical exhibition industry includes theatre chains, independent theatres and IMAX theatres that exhibit theatrical feature films. Despite the growth of online distribution platforms, theatrical exhibition remains an important release window for feature films in Canada. In 2024, there were 2,740 theatre screens and more than 64 million tickets sold in Canada, according to the most recent data published by Statistics Canada.[26] By comparison, more than 96 million tickets were sold in 2018, the most recent complete year of full operations prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.[27]

Highlights from 2024 & 2025

  • Canadian new-release films’ share of total new releases in Canadian theatres increased from 14.0% to 14.9 in 2024, but fell slightly to 14.6% in 2025.
  • Theatrical exhibition industry revenue fell by 1.9% to $1.63 billion in 2024, but is estimated to have increased to $1.64 billion in 2025.
  • Canadian films’ share of the Canadian box office decreased from 3.3% in 2023 to 2.8% in 2024, before falling to 1.7% in 2025.
  • Total box office receipts fell by 6.1% to $835 million, before rising slightly to $836 million in 2025
  • Canadian films’ box office revenue in Canada fell to $23.5 million in 2024, and then to $14.2 million in 2025, a 51.1% decline between 2023 and 2025.

11.1 Total revenue

Theatrical exhibition and audiences

Theatrical exhibition industry revenue fell by 1.9% in 2024 to $1.63 billion, and is estimated to have increased only slightly to $1.64 billion in 2025.

Exhibit 11-1 Total revenue in the theatrical exhibition industry in Canada

Source:
Nordicity estimates based on data from the Movie Theatre Association of Canada (MTAC), Statistics Canada, catalogue no. 87F0009X and table: 21-10-0178-01, and Cineplex Inc.

Note:
*Statistics for 2025 are not published by Statistics Canada and have been estimated.

Just over half of the Canadian theatrical exhibition industry's total revenue in 2024* was from ticket sales (i.e., box office), with 35% from food and beverage sales, and the remaining 14% from other sources.

Exhibit 11-2 Sources of revenue in the theatrcial exhibition industry in Canada, 2024

Source:
Nordicity estimates based on data from the Movie Theatre Association of Canada (MTAC), Statistics Canada, catalogue no. 87F0009X, table: 21-10-0178-01 and table: 21-10-0181-01.

Note:
*Breakdown of revenue sourced from Statistics Canada for 2024 is the most recent year of published statistics for the theatrical exhibition industry.
**Includes revenue earned from sales of in-theatre advertising, other advertising sales, merchandise sales, private screenings and parties, and corporate events.

[26]Statistics Canada (2023). Table 21-10-0180-01.
[27]Statistics Canada (2019). Table 21-10-0180-01.