Canadian entertainment and media company Cineplex has reported box office revenues of $60.5 million for May 2026, delivering its highest May box office since 2019.
Cineplex’s May performance was driven by a compelling and diverse film slate, resulting in strong audience engagement, with notable strength among younger moviegoers. Top performing films reflected a balance of franchise and original content, and included The Devil Wears Prada 2, Michael (continuing from April), Obsession, Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, and Backrooms.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 opened the month of May in style, surpassing the original film’s total domestic box office within its first ten days and driving premium engagement, particularly in VIP Cinemas. Michael, distributed by Cineplex Pictures, continues to perform exceptionally well and has become the highest grossing music biopic of all time, surpassing $300 million at the domestic box office. Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu demonstrates the successful evolution of a streaming-based franchise into a major theatrical event. The film opened strongly and has generated approximately 66% of its box office from premium formats to date.
Horror films Obsession and Backrooms significantly exceeded expectations, demonstrating that audiences are responding to compelling content beyond traditional tentpole releases. Both films drew a significant portion of their audiences from the key under-25 demographic. Obsession has continued to build week after week, an uncommon achievement for wide releases, reinforcing the role the theatrical window plays in building audience demand. Popularized on YouTube, Backrooms, reflects the evolving pathways to theatrical distribution and the reciprocal relationship between digital platforms and the big screen.
Complementing strong box office performance, May represented the Company’s highest monthly concession spend per patron on record. Cineplex’s extensive food and beverage offerings, ranging from traditional theatre concessions to full in-theatre dining, continue to enhance the overall moviegoing experience.
Momentum has continued into June, with month-to-date box office up significantly compared to the prior year, supported by a strong start to the summer slate, including a franchise-record opening for Scary Movie.
“May’s performance reflects the strength of our content slate, sustained consumer demand for the theatrical experience, and our team’s continued focus on delivering premium, differentiated offerings,” said Ellis Jacob, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are seeing consistent momentum at the box office with consumers engaging across a well-balanced mix of titles, from major releases to mid-sized and smaller films across genres, reinforcing the importance of a steady and diverse release cadence. With major upcoming releases including Disclosure Day, Toy Story 5 and Supergirl rounding out the second quarter, followed by Minions & Monsters and Moana, Cineplex is well positioned for a strong summer and an even stronger balance of the year.”
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