Plano, Texas, September 10, 2025
News Summary
Cinemark reported an unprecedented opening weekend for the horror film The Conjuring: Last Rites, marking its second-largest domestic horror opening and best post-pandemic performance in North America. Enhanced audience turnout drove record concession sales, particularly in Latin America, where it set new attendance and advanced ticket sales records for the horror genre. The company attributed the success to strong consumer demand for horror films and its ongoing investments in theater experiences.
Plano, Texas — Cinemark reported a record-breaking opening weekend for the film The Conjuring: Last Rites, registering the chain’s second-biggest domestic horror film opening weekend of all time and the best post-pandemic horror opening weekend in North America for the industry. The debut also ranked as the third-best horror film opening weekend of all time overall, while Cinemark’s South and Central American locations recorded their highest attendance ever for a horror opening weekend and the highest advanced ticket sales
Key performance metrics and immediate impacts
The weekend produced a marked uplift in concessions, driving a new company high for food and beverage per capita across Cinemark’s U.S. theaters. The chain identified the weekend as one of its largest concession sales weekends for a horror premiere on record. In addition to domestic box office achievements, the film posted the largest international debut for a horror title in Cinemark’s history.
Attendance and sales highlights
- Second-largest domestic opening weekend in Cinemark history for a horror film.
- Third-best horror film opening weekend of all time on broader industry measures.
- Record attendance in South and Central America for a horror opening weekend at Cinemark locations.
- Highest advanced sales for any horror film in Cinemark’s South and Central American market history.
- New high in food & beverage per cap across U.S. theaters, and one of the chain’s biggest-ever concession sales weekends for a horror premiere.
Company perspective and operational context
Cinemark attributed the results to strong consumer demand for theatrical horror experiences and the enduring popularity of the franchise behind the film. The company emphasized ongoing investments in theater improvements and the customer journey as part of its strategy to enhance the guest experience and support future releases.
Scale and footprint
Cinemark operates nearly 500 theaters and more than 5,500 screens across the United States and South and Central America. These venues include premium formats and amenities that the company said contributed to audience turnout and ancillary sales during the opening weekend.
Upcoming release slate and scheduling outlook
Cinemark’s immediate theatrical calendar includes several high-profile titles scheduled for release in late 2024 and 2025. Notable upcoming release dates mentioned by the company are:
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle — September 12
- Tron: Ares — October 10
- Wicked: For Good — November 21
Looking further ahead to 2026, the company anticipates major releases including Project Hail Mary on March 20 and Toy Story 5 on June 19, which could further influence attendance patterns and concession revenue trends.
Broader implications
The performance of The Conjuring: Last Rites at Cinemark highlights continued audience interest in franchise horror and the potential for strong ancillary revenue streams tied to theatrical presentations. The combination of elevated ticket sales, record advanced purchases in Latin American markets, and increased per-capita concessions suggests a favorable short-term revenue mix for exhibitors during high-profile genre releases.
Background
Horror films often produce strong opening-weekend attendance, with franchise titles regularly drawing established fan bases. Post-pandemic recovery in theatrical attendance has been uneven by genre and market; this release appears to have outperformed many recent horror debuts domestically and internationally at Cinemark, setting new internal benchmarks for advanced sales and attendance in specific regions.
FAQ
What records did Cinemark report for The Conjuring: Last Rites?
Cinemark reported the film as its second-biggest domestic horror opening weekend, the best post-pandemic North American horror opening weekend for the industry, and the third-best horror opening weekend of all time. The company also noted record attendance and advanced sales in its South and Central American markets.
How did the opening weekend affect concessions?
The opening weekend produced a new company high for food and beverage per capita across Cinemark’s U.S. theaters and was one of the chain’s largest concession sales weekends for a horror premiere.
Which regions saw the strongest ticket sales and attendance?
South and Central American Cinemark locations recorded their highest-ever attendance for a horror opening weekend and the highest advanced ticket sales for a horror title in that region.
What upcoming films are scheduled at Cinemark?
Upcoming releases listed by Cinemark include Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle (September 12), Tron: Ares (October 10), and Wicked: For Good (November 21), with 2026 highlights such as Project Hail Mary (March 20) and Toy Story 5 (June 19).
How large is Cinemark’s footprint?
Cinemark operates nearly 500 theaters and more than 5,500 screens across the United States and South and Central America.
Key metrics at a glance
| Metric | Result / Rank | Relative bar |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic horror opening (Cinemark) | 2nd largest |
|
| Industry post-pandemic NA horror opening | Best |
|
| All-time horror opening (overall) | 3rd best |
|
| South & Central America attendance | Highest ever for horror |
|
| Food & beverage per cap (U.S.) | New company high |
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