New Study Reveals Gen Z Biggest Movie Theater Supporters

With so many people now streaming shows and movies at home, and stories emerging that companies like Netflix are simplifying content to grab the attention of viewers who are often distracted by phones and other devices, it’s surprising to find that Gen Z is actually going to movie theaters more than other generations.

A recent Fandango study shows that Gen Z is now the largest group going to movie theaters. In the last year, 87% of Gen Zers saw a movie in theaters, compared to 82% of millennials, 70% of Gen X, and 58% of baby boomers.

Gen Z Goes Out to the Movie Theater More Than Any Other Generation

According to Variety, Gen Z goes to the movie theater more than any other generation, averaging about seven visits each year.

Teenagers and young adults, aged 14 to 29 in 2026, are increasingly spending more on snacks and upgraded movie experiences like IMAX when they go to the cinema.

The study found that Gen Z sees going to the movies as a social event. They also prefer the wider range of films available in theaters and simply enjoy getting out of the house, which encourages them to go.

Recent data challenges the idea that Gen Z isn’t interested in going to movie theaters. In fact, their attendance is growing. According to Jerramy Hainline, an executive at Fandango, Gen Z particularly enjoys the social experience of seeing movies with others, proving that theaters remain a popular hangout for young people.

Younger generations, like Gen Z and millennials, are changing how people experience movies. They want high-quality experiences, opportunities to connect with others, and different types of movies than before. According to Hainline, movie theaters need to adapt to these preferences – it’s crucial for their survival.

I was really excited to see the Cinema United report for 2025! It showed that people my age – Gen Z – are actually going to movie theaters more and more. Attendance jumped 25% from the year before, and over 40% of us went to see a movie at least six times in the last year. It’s great to see so many of us still enjoying the big screen experience!

While Gen Z is going to the movies more, they’re still picky about the films they choose.

A recent UCLA survey found that most Gen Z viewers would prefer to see less sex and explicit content in movies. Nearly half (48%) of those surveyed feel there’s currently “too much” sexual content in films today.

Every Current Movie Theater Candy, Ranked From Worst to Best

34. Sno-Caps

Let’s be clear: Sno-Caps are really unpleasant and shouldn’t be eaten unless you’re in a survival situation with no other food available. We’ve written a full article explaining why, but it’s worth repeating!

33. Red Vines

It’s baffling to me that people even compare Twizzlers and Red Vines. Honestly, the only way someone would choose Red Vines over Twizzlers is if they hadn’t tried Twizzlers before. Red Vines just taste like old, solidified cough syrup.

32. Mike and Ike

The movie theater has a lot of fruity candies, but Mike and Ike are my least favorite. They never seem fresh, and no matter how many times the packaging changes, the candies themselves always taste stale – like they’ve been sitting in an old vending machine for decades.

31. Jujyfruits

Honestly, there are better fruit candies available. And Jujyfruits caused a lot of trouble for Elaine on Seinfeld – they cost her both her boyfriend and her job! I still haven’t forgotten that episode and I don’t think I ever will.

30. Trolli

I don’t quite understand the huge popularity of these candies – they’re a mix of Sour Patch Kids and gummy worms, but the texture isn’t nearly as good as either. It also makes me wonder why kids are so fascinated with eating things shaped like worms! My own children are scared of real worms, so it’s strange that they’d want to eat candy versions of them.

29. Skittles Gummies

Skittles Gummies actually taste a lot like regular Skittles – they deliver the same great flavor, just in a soft, chewy gummy form instead of the classic hard, coated candies. However, it’s debatable whether gummies are actually an improvement. And frankly, I’m disappointed that the green Skittles Gummy is green apple flavored instead of lime – that’s a change I just can’t get behind.

28. Airheads Soft Filled Bites

Airheads releasing a “soft filled” version is a little ironic. It makes you wonder if the original Airheads are actually quite hard to chew! That’s always been my problem with them – they require too much effort. These new bites are a little softer and a slight improvement, though still not the best candy you can get at a concession stand. Also, I was surprised to read on Wikipedia that Airheads are made using a process similar to how Play-Doh is made – now I’m suddenly craving both!

27. Whoppers

Malt belongs in milkshakes, not in little chocolate balls. That’s my position.

26. Milk Duds

Milk Duds are okay, but they’re really rich and filling. They always get stuck in your teeth and make your mouth feel coated. Plus, if you buy Milk Duds, you practically have to buy a drink with them – it’s impossible to finish a whole box without one! Seriously, your throat would feel awful if you tried.

25. Hi-Chew

I’m trying to understand what people like about Hi-Chews. They’re similar to gum, but you’re supposed to swallow them eventually? I might need to sample more of their many flavors—they have almost 30! Though, honestly, all that variety might be the issue. A lot of choices is great, but there’s a limit!

24. Gummy Bears

Concession stand snacks often come in really big bags. That’s perfect for some treats, but not so good for others. Gummy bears, for example, are delicious in small amounts, but eating a whole bag is definitely overkill!

23. Sour Punch Straws

Trolli candies are a mix of Sour Patch Kids and gummy worms, while Sour Punch Straws are like a combination of Sour Patch Kids and Twizzlers. Surprisingly, it’s a pretty good mix! I don’t really like the blue raspberry flavor – I generally don’t care for artificial blue raspberry. But the other flavors are really… intense. I’m trying to find the right word to describe them.

22. Cookie Dough Bites

It’s almost unbelievable that people started buying raw cookie dough! It feels like a bit of a trick. While some uncooked snacks are okay, selling raw dough seems a little strange. Luckily, uncooked pasta bites haven’t become a thing!

21. Welch’s Fruit Snacks

These fruit snacks are a better choice than gummy bears, offering a wider range of delicious, natural flavors. The company even highlights that real fruit is the first ingredient, making it easy to feel a little better about snacking on them at the movies.

20. Reese’s Pieces

While Reese’s Pieces are famous for their appearance in the movie E.T., they aren’t the best of the Reese’s candies. Caramel-filled Reese’s Cups, though—now that would be a great idea! (My wife insists Reese’s Pieces are the top movie candy and thinks I’ve ranked them too low. To keep the peace at home, I wanted to share her opinion.)

19. Lemonheads

These are really good, but the name “Lemonheads” is a bit awkward. It just doesn’t sound quite right, and honestly, it could be misinterpreted. If they had a different name, I’d rank them much higher.

18. Good & Plenty

Licorice is definitely a candy people either love or hate, and I’m a big fan! I especially enjoy Good & Plenty at the movie theater. The boxes they sell there are huge, and the licorice flavor is so intense that a single box lasts through all the previews. And, as a bonus, they’re fat-free, which feels like a healthy choice!

17. Raisinets

Fruit snacks are okay, but honestly, they’re practically health food! People don’t go to the movies to eat healthy. It’s a place where you can indulge in junk food without anyone watching or judging. Advertising them as a ‘natural source of fruit antioxidants’ just feels wrong – when I’m at the movies, I want all the unhealthy goodness I can get!

16. Swedish Fish

These candies are tasty, especially if you enjoy Swedish flavors, but the taste gets repetitive quickly. While enjoyable at first, the consistent flavor becomes tiring, and we’d likely prefer a candy with a similar feel but more diverse flavors.

15. Hot Tamales

These candies are definitely a divisive treat, but I personally love them! They have a satisfyingly crisp texture and offer a refreshing change from overly sweet candies that leave you feeling parched.

14. Butterfinger Unwrapped Minis

I really enjoy Butterfingers, especially the fun-size ones I get on Halloween. However, eating an entire box might be a bit much – they can get overly crunchy and intensely peanut buttery. Even I have my limits!

13. Kit Kat

Kit Kat is also a fantastic Halloween treat – I think it’s one of the best. (Let’s just say my kids once held an intervention because I ate so many of their Halloween Kit Kats, and I’m not commenting further on that!) However, a whole bag can be a bit much. It’s perfect if you can share it with someone – maybe your partner or kids – especially if you need to make up for previously finishing off their Kit Kats. Eventually, though, enough is enough.

12. Dots

Dots Flavors Power Ranking:

1. Red

2. Green

3. Yellow

4. Pink

5. Orange

11. Buncha Crunch

Look, I’m a bit of a candy fanatic, and generally, those fun-size chocolate bars are just… disappointing. They’re clearly made for kids trick-or-treating, and quality isn’t a priority. But Buncha Crunch? That’s a total exception. Honestly, why would you even bother with a regular Crunch bar when you can just grab a handful of those little, perfectly crunchy bits? It’s not even a contest – the miniature version is way better.

10. Sweetarts Ropes

These movie candies are a recent and welcome addition to the selection. They don’t have that chalky taste you might expect from older candies like SweeTarts, though it’s clear branding played a role in their creation. Either way, they’re incredibly easy to eat – I know, because I finished a whole bag myself!

9. M&M’s

Okay, so M&Ms are just a classic movie snack, right? Seriously, you can hardly go wrong with any kind. And let’s be real, popping a handful into your popcorn is pure genius. But I had this amazing idea – movie theaters need M&M dispensers like those Coca-Cola Freestyle machines! Imagine building your own custom blend – plain, mint, pretzel… the possibilities! I’m telling you, this is a billion-dollar idea and I’m just putting it out there!

8. Goobers

Just so you know, I used to have digestive problems and doctors told me to stay away from nuts and seeds for years. But recently, a doctor explained that advice was outdated and incorrect – I could actually eat whatever I wanted! That night, I went out and bought a box of Goobers, a candy I loved as a kid. They weren’t exactly as amazing as I remembered, but the chocolate and peanut combination is still surprisingly delicious.

7. Life Savers Gummies

It seems like all the new candies these days are just freeze-dried or gummy versions of old favorites, which makes me skeptical. However, Life Savers Gummies are genuinely good! They’ve actually been around since the early 90s, unlike many other recent gummy candies. They have the ideal gummy texture – they’re so soft you hardly need to chew. And if you haven’t tried the Wild Berries flavor, you’re missing out – it might be the most underrated candy out there.

6. Twizzlers

These are often called “The Good Red Vines.” I haven’t yet discovered how many Twizzlers a person can actually eat at once!

5. Junior Mints

Come on — who doesn’t love a Junior Mint? It’s chocolate, it’s peppermint. It’s delicious!

4. Nerds (Juicy) Gummy Clusters

Gummy Clusters are surprisingly good – but you need to choose the right kind. The original flavor is okay, but a bit too simple and sweet. However, the ‘Juicy’ Gummy Clusters, which came out in late 2025, are amazing. They’re larger, gooier, and the Strawberry Punch flavor is perfectly tart and tangy – so good you can easily eat handful after handful. Seriously, you eat one and suddenly the whole bag is gone, and you’ve probably consumed enough sugar to experience temporary time travel (for free!).

3. Skittles

Skittles are a timeless movie snack – a $12 bag usually lasts a good portion of the film! They used to rank lower on my list because Skittles made a terrible mistake: they replaced the lime flavor – the best flavor – with green apple. It was like Coca-Cola’s New Coke disaster! I kept buying bags, forgetting the green ones were apple, and being disappointed every time. Thankfully, like New Coke, they eventually brought lime back, and Skittles jumped up in my rankings.

2. Sour Patch Kids

Sour Patch Kids are similar to Swedish Fish, but they come in more flavors and have a unique sour coating. What’s great is that every flavor in the bag is good – you won’t find any duds! A large bag lasts a surprisingly long time, though it’s tempting to make them last even longer by savoring each one… (Let’s be honest, we’ve all tried to do that during a movie!)

1. Starburst

Starburst hits all the right notes for movie candy. It offers a nice mix of flavors, lasts a long time, and has a satisfying chew without sticking to your teeth. While the original flavors are great, Mini Starburst – and particularly the Mini Starburst “FaveReds” (which swap lemon and orange for watermelon and fruit punch) – are truly perfect for a movie night.

2026-04-08 22:39