Canada’s theatrical market delivered its strongest performance since the pandemic in 2025, signaling a steady recovery for the exhibition sector.
Total box office revenue of Canada reached CAD $863.9 million, marking a 27% year-over-year increase. Admissions climbed to 71.6 million, up 16% compared with the previous year.
Despite the growth, the market has not yet fully returned to pre-pandemic levels. Revenues reached 77% of 2019 figures, while admissions recovered to 74% of pre-pandemic attendance.
Films Gain Ground in Canada
Domestic productions increased their market share to 11.5%, up from 10.2% in 2024. Quebec continued to play a central role, accounting for 85% of total admissions for Canadian films. In the province, local titles captured a 23.5% market share.
English-language Canadian films also posted gains, with market share rising to 4.2%, compared to 3.4% the previous year. Overall, Canadian productions attracted 8.2 million admissions, reflecting a 14% annual increase.
Distribution Landscape
Multinational studios maintained their dominant position, controlling 85% of the market. However, independent distributors expanded their presence, increasing their share to 15%, up from 13% in 2024.
More than 650 films were released theatrically in 2025, an 18% increase year over year. At the same time, a growing proportion of titles received limited releases in fewer than 10 theaters, highlighting ongoing challenges around screen access and theatrical longevity.
Top-Performing Titles
Box office momentum was largely driven by global franchise and family-oriented releases, including:
- A Minecraft Movie
- Jurassic World: Rebirth
- Superman
- Lilo & Stitch
- F1 The Movie
- How to Train Your Dragon
The recovery was fueled by strong blockbuster performances, increased marketing investments, and a more stable release calendar. While competition from streaming platforms remains significant, audience demand for theatrical experiences appears to be stabilizing.
Industry outlook for 2026 is described as cautiously optimistic, with stakeholders watching closely to see whether momentum can be sustained.
