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Movie & Video Distribution in the US Industry Data and Analysis
The movie and video distribution industry primarily circulates audiovisual works to cinemas, TV networks, other exhibitors and stores. As movie theaters around the globe went dark in 2020, studios delayed blockbuster releases or pivoted to online platforms, fundamentally altering distribution dynamics. Although theaters have reopened, the industry is still playing catch-up to pre-pandemic revenue levels, despite a wave of enthusiasm for the big-screen experience. While US box office revenue topped $8.6 billion with nearly 700 feature films produced in 2024, audiences increasingly favor the convenience and affordability of streaming services. The industry continues encountering increasing external competition as digital technology enables production studios to distribute their own content and bypass dedicated distributors. The industry has increased its reliance on independent productions and existing content libraries. Overall, revenue has jumped forward at a CAGR of 4.2% to $1.5 billion over the past five years, including an expected 0.6% incline in 2025. Although profit is expected to slump to 19.6% of revenue in 2025 from 28.3% in 2020.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Movie & Video Distribution industry in the United States includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released July 2025.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Movie & Video Distribution industry in the United States operates under the NAICS industry code 51212. The Movie and Video Distribution industry primarily circulates audiovisual works to cinemas, TV networks, other exhibitors and stores. The industry excludes movie and TV distributors that are also involved in audiovisual content production; retailers, rental stores and merchant wholesalers that distribute prerecorded physical media; and music distributors. Related terms covered in the Movie & Video Distribution industry in the United States include motion picture, audiovisual work, blu-ray, pirating and outsource.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Movie & Video Distribution industry in the United States include Film distribution, TV distribution and Other.
What companies are included in this industry?
The Movie & Video Distribution industry in the United States is highly fragmented with no companies holding a market share greater than 5%.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Movie & Video Distribution industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Movie & Video Distribution industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Movie & Video Distribution industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Movie & Video Distribution industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Movie & Video Distribution industry in the United States. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Movie & Video Distribution industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Movie & Video Distribution industry in the United States. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Movie & Video Distribution industry in the United States.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Movie & Video Distribution industry in the United States in 2026?
The market size of the Movie & Video Distribution industry in the United States is $1.5bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Movie & Video Distribution industry in the United States in 2025?
There are 519 businesses in the Movie & Video Distribution industry in the United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 4.5 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Movie & Video Distribution industry in the United States?
The Movie & Video Distribution industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Movie & Video Distribution industry in the United States?
The Movie & Video Distribution industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Movie & Video Distribution industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Movie & Video Distribution industry in the United States has been growing at a CAGR of 4.2 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Movie & Video Distribution industry in the United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Movie & Video Distribution industry in the United States is expected to grow.
What does the Movie & Video Distribution industry in the United States include?
Acquiring licenses and rights to distribute motion pictures and TV programming and Marketing motion pictures and TV programming are part of the Movie & Video Distribution industry in the United States.
How competitive is the Movie & Video Distribution industry in the United States?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Movie & Video Distribution industry in the United States.
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