Entertainment
Regal Cinemas, IFTA, and CNC launch distribution pilot to address theater attendance
Variety reports that the pilot will begin in selected markets later this year to counter declining admissions.
The short version
- Regal Cinemas, IFTA, and the CNC launched the Future of Distribution pilot at the Lumière Summit in France.[Variety]
- The initiative begins across selected markets in the fourth quarter of this year.[Variety]
- The pilot follows a 37% drop in North American theater admissions between 2019 and 2025, with industry occupancy estimated at 11 to 15%.[Variety]
- An initial report assessing the findings of the pilot is expected in the first half of 2027.[Variety]
Key facts
- Regal Cinemas, IFTA, and the CNC introduced the Future of Distribution pilot at the Lumière Summit in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France.[Variety]
- The trial will launch in chosen markets during the fourth quarter of this year, ahead of an initial findings report in early 2027.[Variety]
- North American movie theater admissions reached approximately 770 million in 2025, representing a 37% drop from 2019 levels.[Variety]
- Average seat occupancy across the theatrical sector ranges between 11% and 15%.[Variety]
What remains uncertain
- Whether the pilot can successfully reverse falling attendance patterns remains unproven until initial findings are reported in 2027.[Variety]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.