Screen Source presents:

U.S. Movie Theater Facts

Updated March 9, 2000

Yr.

Feature
Film
Releases

Total
Screens

Drive-In
Screens
(included
in Total
Screens)

Total
Attendance
(x millions)

Average
Ticket
Price

Box Office
Gross
(x millions)

Average
Production
Cost per
Film
without
Marketing
(x millions)

99

461

37,185

737

1,465

$5.08

$7,448

$51.5

98

509

34,186

746

1,481

$4.69

$6,949

$52.7

97

510

31,640

815

1,388

$4.59

$6,366

$53.4

96

471

29,690

826

1,339

$4.42

$5,912

$39.8

95

411

27,805

847

1,263

$4.35

$5,494

$36.4

94

453

26,586

885

1,292

$4.18

$5,396

$34.3

93

462

25,737

850

1,244

$4.14

$5,154

$29.9

92

480

25,105

872

1,173

$4.15

$4,871

$28.9

91

458

24,570

908

1,141

$4.21

$4,803

$26.1

90

410

23,689

915

1,189

$4.23

$5,022

$26.8

89

501

23,132

1,103

1,263

$3.97

$5,033

$23.5

88

510

23,234

1,545

1,085

$4.11

$4,458

$18.1

87

509

23,555

2,507

1,089

$3.91

$4,253

$20.1

86

451

22,765

2,818

1,017

$3.71

$3,778

$17.5

85

470

21,147

2,820

1,056

$3.55

$3,749

$16.8

84

536

20,200

2,832

1,199

$3.36

$4,031

$14.4

83

495

18,884

2,852

1,197

$3.15

$3,766

$11.9

82

428

18,020

3,043

1,175

$2.94

$3,453

$11.8

81

173 major

18,040

3,308

1,067

$2.78

$2,966

$11.3

80

161 major

17,590

3,561

1,022

$2.69

$2,749

$9.38

79

214 major

16,900

3,570

1,123

$2.51

$2,806

$8.91

78

354

16,250

3,580

1,134

$2.34

$2,653

$5.00

77

560

16,050

3,607

1,061

$2.23

$2,372

n/a

76

575

15,800

3,635

957

$2.13

$2,036

$4.00

75

604

15,000

3,628

1,035

$2.05

$2,115

n/a

74

550

14,400

3,578

1,009

$1.87

$1,909

$2.50

73

463

14,400

3,655

863

$1.77

$1,524

n/a

72

376

14,400

3,734

936

$1.70

$1,644

$1.89

71

432

14,000

3,720

822

$1.65

$1,170

n/a

70

367

13,750

3,750

920

$1.55

$1,162

n/a

69

412

13,500

3,700

910

$1.42

$1,099

n/a

68

454

13,120

3,700

978

$1.31

$1,045

n/a

67

462

13,490

3,670

926

$1.20

$989

n/a

66

451

14,350

4,200

1,976

$1.09

$964

n/a

65

452

14,000

4,150

2,288

$1.01

$927

n/a

64

502

13,750

4,100

2,262

$0.93

$913

n/a

63

420

12,800

3,550

2,288

$0.85

$904

n/a

62

427

21,000

6,000

2,236

$0.70

$903

n/a

61

462

21,000

6,000

2,184

$0.69

$921

n/a

60

387

16,999

4,700

2,080

$0.69

$951

n/a

59

439

16,103

4,768

2,184

$0.51

$958

n/a

58

507

16,000

4,700

2,080

$0.51

$992

n/a

57

533

19,003

4,500

2,340

$0.51

$1,126

n/a

56

479

19,003

4,494

2,444

$0.50

$1,394

n/a

55

392

19,200

4,587

2,392

$0.50

$1,326

n/a

54

427

19,101

4,062

2,548

$0.45

$1,228

n/a

53

534

17,965

3,791

2,392

$0.60

$1,187

n/a

52

463

18,623

3,276

2,652

$0.60

$1,246

n/a

51

654

18,980

2,830

2,808

$0.53

$1,310

$1.10

50

622

19,106

2,202

3,120

$0.53

$1,376

$1.10

49

470

18,570

1,203

4,550

$0.46

$1,451

n/a

48

459

18,395

820

4,680

$0.40

$1,506

$1.03

47

486

18,607

548

4,680

$0.40

$1,594

$0.73

46

467

19,019

300

4,680

$0.40

$1,692

$0.67

45

377

20,457

102

4,680

$0.35

$1,450

n/a

44

442

20,375

96

4,420

$0.32

$1,341

$0.46

43

427

20,293

97

4,420

$0.29

$1,275

$0.40

42

533

20,380

99

4,420

$0.27

$1,022

$0.34

41

598

19,750

75

4,420

$0.25

$809

$0.33

40

673

19,042

n/a

4,160

$0.24

$735

$0.30

39

761

17,829

n/a

4,420

$0.23

$659

n/a

38

769

18,192

n/a

4,420

$0.23

$663

$0.28

37

778

18,192

n/a

4,420

$0.23

$676

n/a

36

735

15,858

n/a

4,576

$0.25

$626

n/a

35

766

15,273

n/a

3,900

$0.24

$566

n/a

34

662

16,885

n/a

3,640

$0.23

$518

n/a

33

644

18,553

n/a

3,120

$0.23

$482

n/a

32

685

18,715

n/a

3,120

n/a

$527

n/a

31

622

21,993

n/a

3,900

n/a

$719

n/a

30

595

23,000

n/a

4,680

n/a

$732

n/a

29

707

23,344

n/a

4,940

$0.35

$720

n/a

28

820

22,300

n/a

3,380

n/a

n/a

n/a

27

743

21,660

n/a

2,964

n/a

n/a

n/a

26

740

19,500

n/a

2,600

n/a

n/a

n/a

25

578

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

24

579

15,000

n/a

n/a

$0.25

n/a

n/a

23

576

15,000

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

22

748

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

21

854

20,000

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

20

797

n/a

n/a

1,820

n/a

n/a

n/a

19

646

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

$0.06

18

841

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

17

687

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

16

677

n/a

n/a

520

n/a

n/a

n/a

15

419

17,000

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

14

52

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

13

12

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

$0.01

12

2

13,000

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

11

0

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

10

0

13,000

n/a

n/a

$0.07

n/a

n/a

9

0

9,000

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Notes:
n/a = not available
For 1967 - present, Number of Screens and Attendance numbers are from the MPAA.
For 1935 - 1966, Number of Screens and Attendance numbers are from the Film Daily Yearbook.
By 1935, all theaters were wired for sound.
In 1928, only 125 theaters were wired for sound.
In 1928, only 10 movies had sound and all were from Warner.
In 1926, the first feature film with sound was Don Juan. It had music but no speaking.
From 1910 to 1914, most films were not feature length, averaging only 30 minutes each.
In 1905, the $.05 Nickelodeon appeared which showed 15 minute films with piano accompaniment.

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We try to be very accurate, so if you are aware of omissions or errors, or if you have some comments, please e-mail us at: scrnsrc@amug.org

Yr.	Feature Film Releases	Total Screens	Drive-In Screens (included in Total Screens)	Total Attendance (x millions)	Average Ticket Price	Box Office Gross (x millions)	Average Production Cost per Film without Marketing (x millions)
99	461	37,185	737	1,465	$5.08	$7,448	$51.5
98	509	34,186	746	1,481	$4.69	$6,949	$52.7
97	510	31,640	815	1,388	$4.59	$6,366	$53.4
96	471	29,690	826	1,339	$4.42	$5,912	$39.8
95	411	27,805	847	1,263	$4.35	$5,494	$36.4
94	453	26,586	885	1,292	$4.18	$5,396	$34.3
93	462	25,737	850	1,244	$4.14	$5,154	$29.9
92	480	25,105	872	1,173	$4.15	$4,871	$28.9
91	458	24,570	908	1,141	$4.21	$4,803	$26.1
90	410	23,689	915	1,189	$4.23	$5,022	$26.8
89	501	23,132	1,103	1,263	$3.97	$5,033	$23.5
88	510	23,234	1,545	1,085	$4.11	$4,458	$18.1
87	509	23,555	2,507	1,089	$3.91	$4,253	$20.1
86	451	22,765	2,818	1,017	$3.71	$3,778	$17.5
85	470	21,147	2,820	1,056	$3.55	$3,749	$16.8
84	536	20,200	2,832	1,199	$3.36	$4,031	$14.4
83	495	18,884	2,852	1,197	$3.15	$3,766	$11.9
82	428	18,020	3,043	1,175	$2.94	$3,453	$11.8
81	173 major	18,040	3,308	1,067	$2.78	$2,966	$11.3
80	161 major	17,590	3,561	1,022	$2.69	$2,749	$9.38
79	214 major	16,900	3,570	1,123	$2.51	$2,806	$8.91
78	354	16,250	3,580	1,134	$2.34	$2,653	$5.00
77	560	16,050	3,607	1,061	$2.23	$2,372	n/a
76	575	15,800	3,635	957	$2.13	$2,036	$4.00
75	604	15,000	3,628	1,035	$2.05	$2,115	n/a
74	550	14,400	3,578	1,009	$1.87	$1,909	$2.50
73	463	14,400	3,655	863	$1.77	$1,524	n/a
72	376	14,400	3,734	936	$1.70	$1,644	$1.89
71	432	14,000	3,720	822	$1.65	$1,170	n/a
70	367	13,750	3,750	920	$1.55	$1,162	n/a
69	412	13,500	3,700	910	$1.42	$1,099	n/a
68	454	13,120	3,700	978	$1.31	$1,045	n/a
67	462	13,490	3,670	926	$1.20	$989	n/a
66	451	14,350	4,200	1,976	$1.09	$964	n/a
65	452	14,000	4,150	2,288	$1.01	$927	n/a
64	502	13,750	4,100	2,262	$0.93	$913	n/a
63	420	12,800	3,550	2,288	$0.85	$904	n/a
62	427	21,000	6,000	2,236	$0.70	$903	n/a
61	462	21,000	6,000	2,184	$0.69	$921	n/a
60	387	16,999	4,700	2,080	$0.69	$951	n/a
59	439	16,103	4,768	2,184	$0.51	$958	n/a
58	507	16,000	4,700	2,080	$0.51	$992	n/a
57	533	19,003	4,500	2,340	$0.51	$1,126	n/a
56	479	19,003	4,494	2,444	$0.50	$1,394	n/a
55	392	19,200	4,587	2,392	$0.50	$1,326	n/a
54	427	19,101	4,062	2,548	$0.45	$1,228	n/a
53	534	17,965	3,791	2,392	$0.60	$1,187	n/a
52	463	18,623	3,276	2,652	$0.60	$1,246	n/a
51	654	18,980	2,830	2,808	$0.53	$1,310	$1.10
50	622	19,106	2,202	3,120	$0.53	$1,376	$1.10
49	470	18,570	1,203	4,550	$0.46	$1,451	n/a
48	459	18,395	820	4,680	$0.40	$1,506	$1.03
47	486	18,607	548	4,680	$0.40	$1,594	$0.73
46	467	19,019	300	4,680	$0.40	$1,692	$0.67
45	377	20,457	102	4,680	$0.35	$1,450	n/a
44	442	20,375	96	4,420	$0.32	$1,341	$0.46
43	427	20,293	97	4,420	$0.29	$1,275	$0.40
42	533	20,380	99	4,420	$0.27	$1,022	$0.34
41	598	19,750	75	4,420	$0.25	$809	$0.33
40	673	19,042	n/a	4,160	$0.24	$735	$0.30
39	761	17,829	n/a	4,420	$0.23	$659	n/a
38	769	18,192	n/a	4,420	$0.23	$663	$0.28
37	778	18,192	n/a	4,420	$0.23	$676	n/a
36	735	15,858	n/a	4,576	$0.25	$626	n/a
35	766	15,273	n/a	3,900	$0.24	$566	n/a
34	662	16,885	n/a	3,640	$0.23	$518	n/a
33	644	18,553	n/a	3,120	$0.23	$482	n/a
32	685	18,715	n/a	3,120	n/a	$527	n/a
31	622	21,993	n/a	3,900	n/a	$719	n/a
30	595	23,000	n/a	4,680	n/a	$732	n/a
29	707	23,344	n/a	4,940	$0.35	$720	n/a
28	820	22,300	n/a	3,380	n/a	n/a	n/a
27	743	21,660	n/a	2,964	n/a	n/a	n/a
26	740	19,500	n/a	2,600	n/a	n/a	n/a
25	578	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
24	579	15,000	n/a	n/a	$0.25	n/a	n/a
23	576	15,000	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
22	748	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
21	854	20,000	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
20	797	n/a	n/a	1,820	n/a	n/a	n/a
19	646	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	$0.06
18	841	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
17	687	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
16	677	n/a	n/a	520	n/a	n/a	n/a
15	419	17,000	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
14	52	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
13	12	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	$0.01
12	2	13,000	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
11	0	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
10	0	13,000	n/a	n/a	$0.07	n/a	n/a
9	0	9,000	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a