Movie & Video Distribution in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)
New York, United States
Last Updated: July 2024
NAICS 51212Revenue
$2.2bn
Past 5-Year Growth
Profit
$XXX.Xm
Employees
2,763
Businesses
509
Wages
$XXX.Xm
Movie & Video Distribution in the US industry 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, with audiences increasingly favoring 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 inched forward at a CAGR of 0.5% to $2.2 billion over the past five years, including an expected 1.2% incline in 2024. Although profit is expected to slump to 12.1% of revenue in 2024 from 15.3% in 2019.
Trends and Insights
- Streaming services are dominating the entertainment landscape. The shift to digital platforms like Netflix and Disney+ has reshaped how we watch movies and TV. Traditional media struggles to keep up as audiences crave convenience and original content.
- Major studios are cutting out distributors and going direct. Thanks to digital advancements, studios no longer need separate distributors, saving money and streamlining the process.
- Distributors are located near major entertainment venues. Los Angeles and New York are home to many enterprises because of the location of movie studios and theaters in Hollywood and Times Square.
- The movie and video distribution industry is highly fragmented and thrives on personal contacts. Distributors often stick to niche and local markets, relying heavily on relationships to secure and sell content.
Industry Overview
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $2.2bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Revenue is still chasing the pre-pandemic high
- The pandemic adversely affected the global economy in 2020. Industry demand was affected as critical drivers like movie theaters were shut down, pushing back release dates of big box office hits or moving them to streaming services.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
A decline in cable broadcasting demand is offset by a return to theaters
- Cord-cutting trends will continue to siphon demand away from cable broadcasting. Cable networks might integrate more on-demand options and partner with streaming services to retain viewership.
Biggest companies in the Movie & Video Distribution in the US
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue ($short_0)
2024 | Profit ($short_0)
2024 | Profit Margin (%)
2024 |
|---|
There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Movie & Video Distribution in the US industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.
Products & Services Segmentation
Movie & Video Distribution in the US
Products & Services
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Film distribution, TV distribution and Other. Film distribution is the largest segment of the Movie & Video Distribution in the US.
Trends and Insights
Major studios are cutting out distributors
- Film distribution involves the marketing and delivery of movies to theaters, TV networks and streaming services. It generates significant revenue through box office sales, viewership royalties and licensing fees.
- More insights available in the full report
Widen you competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- There are no industries to display.
Complementors
- Recordable Media Manufacturing in the US
- Record Stores in the US
- Movie & Video Production in the US
- Television Production in the US
- Video Postproduction Services in the US
- DVD, Game & Video Rental in the US
International industries
- Global Movie Production & Distribution
- Movie & Video Distribution in Canada
- Motion Picture and Video Distribution in Australia
- Motion Picture and Video Production in New Zealand
- Film, Video & TV Programme Distribution in the UK
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
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.
What's included in this industry?
Acquiring licenses and rights to distribute motion pictures and TV programmingMarketing motion pictures and TV programmingDistributing to TV stationsDistributing to cinemasCompanies
Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
MOTION PICTUREAUDIOVISUAL WORKBLU-RAYPIRATINGOUTSOURCEIndustry Code
NAICS 51212 - Movie & Video Distribution in the US
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Streaming services are dominating the entertainment landscape. The shift to digital platforms like Netflix and Disney+ has reshaped how we watch movies and TV. Traditional me...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Major studios are cutting out distributors and going direct. Thanks to digital advancements, studios no longer need separate distributors, saving money and streamlining the p...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Distributors are located near major entertainment venues. Los Angeles and New York are home to many enterprises because of the location of movie studios and theaters in Holly...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each state in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
The movie and video distribution industry is highly fragmented and thrives on personal contacts. Distributors often stick to niche and local markets, relying heavily on relat...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
The industry is fragmented, and major companies do not dominate industry revenue. Distributors need contracts to distribute content and make sales.
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
Detailed analysis
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Copyright laws protect creators' rights and require distributors to secure permissions. Unauthorized distribution can lead to lawsuits, fines and a damaged reputation, so get...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Tech expertise is driving up wages in the media industry. With the rise of specialized digital distribution, employees with technical skills and industry contacts can command...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
- Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
- Income Statement (2017-2022)
- Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
- Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
- Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
- Leverage Ratios (2017-2022)
- Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in the US include:
- US Census Bureau
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics
- US International Trade Commission
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Movie & Video Distribution in the US industry in United States in 2024?
The market size of the Movie & Video Distribution in the US industry in United States is $2.2bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Movie & Video Distribution in the US industry in 2024?
There are 509 businesses in the Movie & Video Distribution in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 6.9 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Movie & Video Distribution in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Movie & Video Distribution in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 0.5 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Movie & Video Distribution in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Movie & Video Distribution in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.
What does the Movie & Video Distribution in the US in 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 in the US industry.
How competitive is the Movie & Video Distribution in the US industry in United States?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Movie & Video Distribution in the US industry in United States.
