For movie lovers, the ease of catching a film depends on two critical factors: access to movie theaters and flexible showtimes. Whether you’re hunting for the latest blockbuster or an indie gem, some cities offer better opportunities for moviegoers to enjoy the big-screen experience. To find the best (and worst) cities for movie buffs, we analyzed 100 cities across the U.S., ranking them on movie theater density and the number of showtimes per capita.
Key Findings
- Daytona Beach, FL ranks as the best city for moviegoers with the highest combined score of 89.9.
- New Orleans, LA, and Houston, TX tie as the worst cities, each scoring just 10.1.
- Poughkeepsie, NY leads for movie theater access with 2.28 theaters per 100,000 residents.
- Stockton, CA offers the most scheduling flexibility, with 31.63 showings per 10,000 residents.
15 Best Cities for Moviegoers Across America
Across the U.S., cities like Daytona Beach, FL, and Salt Lake City, UT, prove to be moviegoer paradises, balancing ample theater access with a variety of showtimes. Here’s a breakdown of the top 15 cities where catching a movie is easiest:
- Daytona Beach, FL: 1.75 theaters per 100k residents, 14.45 showtimes per 10k residents.
- Salt Lake City, UT: 1.66 theaters per 100k residents, 14.42 showtimes per 10k residents.
- Wichita, KS: 1.85 theaters per 100k residents, 9.74 showtimes per 10k residents.
- Des Moines, IA: 1.67 theaters per 100k residents, 9.96 showtimes per 10k residents.
- Poughkeepsie, NY: Leading in theater access with 2.28 theaters per 100k residents, and 6.84 showtimes per 10k residents.
Smaller cities like Poughkeepsie, Scranton, and Ogden show that residents in less populated areas often enjoy better access to theaters than those in major metro hubs. Cities like Worcester, MA, and Lakeland, FL, also stand out for their impressive showtime availability, making them ideal for flexible movie scheduling.
Next, we’ll take a closer look at the cities where it’s easiest for residents to find a showing of the most recent Hollywood blockbuster based on their number of theaters and frequency showtimes.
U.S. Cities With the Most Movie Theaters and Showtimes
Some cities offer more flexibility than others when it comes to movie theater access. Let’s zoom in on some locales that make it the easiest and hardest to find a theater and a showtime.
Top 5 Best Cities for Movie Theater Access
Movie theater access is a key factor for any cinephile. Smaller cities like Poughkeepsie, NY, and Wichita, KS, dominate this list with excellent theater density.
- Poughkeepsie, NY: 2.28 theaters per 100,000 residents – the highest in the ranking.
- Portland, OR: 1.91 theaters per 100,000 residents.
- Wichita, KS: 1.85 theaters per 100,000 residents.
- Daytona Beach, FL: 1.75 theaters per 100,000 residents.
- Syracuse, NY, and Des Moines, IA (tied): 1.67 theaters per 100,000 residents.
These smaller cities excel at ensuring residents have easy access to theaters, especially compared to larger metros.
Top 5 Worst Cities for Movie Theater Access
Conversely, cities like Toledo, OH, and Augusta, GA, struggle to provide sufficient theater options for their residents:
- Toledo, OH: 0.47 theaters per 100,000 residents.
- Augusta, GA: 0.49 theaters per 100,000 residents.
- Wilmington, NC: 0.54 theaters per 100,000 residents.
- Springfield, MA: 0.58 theaters per 100,000 residents.
- Stockton, CA, and New Orleans, LA: 0.63 theaters per 100,000 residents.
Residents in these cities could find it more challenging to enjoy movies on the big screen due to limited theater availability.
Top 5 Best Cities for Movie Scheduling Flexibility
Scheduling flexibility plays a big role in a city’s moviegoing experience. Stockton, CA, leads the nation with the most showtimes per capita, offering unparalleled convenience.
- Stockton, CA: 31.63 showings per 10,000 residents.
- Lakeland, FL: 25.60 showings per 10,000 residents.
- Worcester, MA: 21.95 showings per 10,000 residents.
- New Haven, CT: 21.23 showings per 10,000 residents.
- Toledo, OH: 19.74 showings per 10,000 residents.
Cities with high showtime availability allow moviegoers to easily find showings that fit their schedules, offering flexibility for different lifestyles.
Top 5 Worst Cities for Movie Scheduling Flexibility
On the other hand, cities like Detroit, MI, and New York, NY, rank at the bottom for showtime availability, limiting options for residents:
- Detroit, MI: 0.79 showings per 10,000 residents – the lowest in the U.S.
- New York, NY: 0.92 showings per 10,000 residents.
- Chicago, IL: 1.01 showings per 10,000 residents.
- Houston, TX: 1.17 showings per 10,000 residents.
- Tampa, FL: 1.45 showings per 10,000 residents.
Despite their size and population density, these major cities often lack scheduling flexibility, making it difficult for residents to catch their desired films at convenient times
Closing Thoughts
This study reveals that smaller cities like Daytona Beach, Poughkeepsie, and Stockton lead the way for movie lovers, offering both excellent theater density and flexible showtime schedules. On the flip side, larger cities like New Orleans and Houston highlight how bigger populations don’t always translate to better access for moviegoers.
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Methodology
To identify the top U.S. cities for moviegoers, we analyzed 100 cities using two key metrics: the number of movie theaters per 100,000 residents and the number of showtimes per 10,000 residents on a single Saturday. Data on total theaters were sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, while showtime data were collected from Fandango. Population estimates were also obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau. Separate rankings were calculated for each metric, with an equal weighting used to determine the overall ranking.
