The U.S. cinema industry has yet to recover from both the pandemic and the self-inflicted wound of the strikes by writers and actors in 2023 as it tries to adapt to competition from the dynamic streaming industry.
Lower box office receipts tell the story. Theater closures, changing industry economics, and the evolving preferences of consumers have only added to the challenge.
Get Joe Brusuelas’s Market Minute economic commentary every morning. Subscribe now.
But as the summer blockbuster season approaches, hope springs eternal for an industry that is in need of a jolt. After all, it has always found a way to adapt in the past.
To that point, I promised my better half that I would accompany her to a screening of “The Devil Wears Prada 2” on Sunday followed by a meal on the Upper East Side, which required purchasing tickets two weeks in advance to obtain a preferred seat.
It is not just about relationship maintenance.
So get out there, enjoy the weekend and see a show while you have some free time.
The rest of the year is likely to be extraordinarily challenging.



