The combination of an uninspiring 2025 at the domestic box office and the uncertainty posed by Netflix’s potential acquisition of Warner Bros. has led to investors to question the prospects for exhibitor stocks including AMC, IMAX and Cinemark. However, some analysts have begun to see this as an under-the-radar opportunity, with the general market overreacting to recent news and ignoring the strength of the 2026 theatrical slate.
This is exactly the argument being put forth by Robert Fishman, a senior research analyst at the Wall Street research firm MoffettNathanson. This week, he upgraded his investor outlook for Cinemark from “Neutral” to “Buy” status, citing an increased number of new releases this year that are expected to earn a domestic box office of $300+ million, supported by mid-level titles that will earn $100+ million. In addition to MoffettNathans, numerous other outlets are also projecting 2026 to be the highest-grossing year for movie theatres since 2019.
Fishman believes that Cinemark is in the strongest position among top exhibitors to benefit from the increased box office, given the company’s solid financial standing.
