Giants of Exhibition 2023

Celebrating the Top 50 Cinema Circuits in North America

The pandemic is finally in the rearview mirror, but theatrical exhibition is still on the road to recovery from the biggest crisis in its history. After an 80 percent decline in domestic box office revenue in 2020, the North American market took its first steps toward normalcy in 2021—culminating with the record-setting release of Sony’s Spider-Man: No Way Home in December. Yet a spike in Covid infections hampered the industry’s ability to build on the momentum of the web-slinging hero’s success at the box office. Production delays and release changes muted the potential of what looked to be a promising 2022. Blockbuster hits like Paramount’s Top Gun: Maverick and Disney’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever helped buoy long, stagnant periods at the box office—a result of a scarcity of new releases made available to theaters. The domestic market finished the year with $7.4 billion in box office, a 64 percent increase from the previous year but still 35 percent behind 2019’s pre-pandemic benchmark.

Exhibitors faced the year’s challenges in stride—employing the marketing techniques and auditorium improvements developed during the 2020 closures to engage and widen their audience base. As the true impact of the pandemic’s closures comes into focus, there will likely be further consolidation across the industry in 2023—with major circuits and medium-sized chains vying for leases to high-profile locations that haven’t been able to recover since reopening. While there are few changes to this year’s Giants of Exhibition ranking of the 50 largest circuits in the North American market, economic forces suggest there will be large-scale changes at play throughout 2023 that will significantly alter this list in the years to come.

Presented By:

RankCompanyFoundedHeadquartersSitesScreens
1AMC Theaters 1920Leawood, KS5917,712
2Regal1989Knoxville, TN4786,474
3Cinemark USA1984Plano, TX3184,392
4Cineplex Inc.2003Toronto, ON1581,641
5Marcus Theatres1935Milwaukee, WI841,053
6B & B Theatres1924Kansas City, MO57529
7Harkins Theatres1933Scottsdale, AZ33487
8Malco Theatres1915Memphis, TN35356
9Emagine Entertainment1997Troy, MI28344
10CMX Cinemas2017Miami, FL30326
11Landmark Cinemas of Canada1965Calgary, AL39317
12Alamo Drafthouse Cinema1997Austin, TX38315
13National Amusements (Showcase Cinemas)1936Norwood, MA23298
14Caribbean Cinemas1968San Juan, PR35289
15Southern Theatres2003New Orleans, LA18266
16Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas2011Dallas, TX26259
17Georgia Theatre Company1992Saint Simons Island, GA24253
17NCG Movies1983Owosso, MI26253
19Premiere Cinemas1993Big Spring, TX22248
20GQT Movies2020Grand Rapids, MI23238
21Reading Cinemas2000Culver City, CA23228
22Studio Movie Grill2000Dallas, TX21226
23UEC Theatres1993Maple Grove, MN22191
24Galaxy Theatres1998Sherman Oaks, CA15176
25Larry H. Miller Theatres (Megaplex Theatres)1999Sandy, UT15173
26EVO Entertainment Group2014Austin, TX18172
27Landmark Theatres1974West Hollywood, CA34166
28Cinema West1984Petaluma, CA16164
28MJR Theatres1980Bloomfield Hills, MI10164
30Regency Theatres1996Agoura Hills, CA22159
31Cinema Entertainment Corp.1964Waite Park, MN19154
32Marquee Cinemas1979Beckley, WV14150
32Celebration Cinema By Studio C1944Grand Rapids, MI11150
34Cinémas Guzzo2003Terrebonne, QC10145
35Epic Theatres2003New Orleans, LA11138
36Classic Cinemas1978Downers Grove, IL16137
36Coming Attractions Theatres1985Ashland, OR16137
38Santikos Entertainment1948San Antonio, TX10129
39Apple Cinemas2013East Walpole , MA12127
40Flagship Premium Cinemas1905Baltimore, MD17125
40Golden Ticket Cinemas2017Durham, NC19125
42R/C Theatres1932Reisterstown, MD13119
43Phoenix Theatres2001Knoxville, TN11115
44Allen Theatres1912Las Cruces, NM16112
45Look Cinemas2021Dallas, TX11111
46Mitchell Theaters2005Elkhart, KS15107
47IPIC Theaters2007Boca Raton, FL13100
48Star Cinema Grill2005Houston, TX1199
49R.L. Fridley Theatres1972Des Moines, IA1794
49XScape Theatres2013New Albany, MI794