Gen Alpha Could Fuel A Moviegoing Renaissance

A new study by NRG found that Gen Alpha — kids born between 2013 and 2025 — love going to the movies.

The Big Picture: While prevailing wisdom says kids love being on their phones, the youngest generation actually craves moments to log off and connect IRL. Going to the movies provides just that, giving Hollywood hope the pendulum is swinging back toward the big screen over streaming.

Behind The Scenes: NRG surveyed 6,100 moviegoers (between six and 60 years old) and found:

• 59% of Gen Alpha would rather watch movies in theaters than at home — compared to 48% of Gen Z and 45% of both millennials and Gen X.
• 55% see moviegoing as a social activity best done with friends — a big jump from Gen Z (40%) and millennials (31%).
• 60% want to see a movie on opening weekend, especially in packed theaters that feel like an event.
• They also like premium formats, with 65% wanting to see movies in IMAX and 54% interested in 3D, 4DX, and VR screenings.
• Only 20% want a phone-integrated theater experience, and just one in ten kids under 13 even use their phone while watching.

Final Credits: The study found that at-home, on-demand entertainment is so status quo for Gen Alpha that “there’s little novelty or excitement to be found in an at-home movie night. By extension, that makes the experience of physically leaving the house and going to watch a movie in theaters feel all the more special.”

And when friends, community, and fandom enter the picture, that’s when moviegoing really shines. It’s why last month’s theatrical release of KPop Demon Hunters crushed expectations — and why Gen Alpha’s favorite entertainment franchises remain Minecraft, Fortnite, and Roblox. Nothing beats a big-screen celebration of their culture.

Coming Soon: The theater of the future won’t just be a place to watch a movie — it’ll be a true “third space,” where audiences can hang out before and after the show, turning a night at the movies into a full social experience.