Press release

LUMIERE
Strasbourg, 22 March 2002

The European Audiovisual Observatory confirms 2001 as an exceptional year for European cinema: market share for US films drops again to 66%

The European Audiovisual Observatory announces the update of its LUMIERE database on admissions to films released in Europe (http://lumiere.obs.coe.int).  The database, available on-line and free-of-charge, is the result of collaboration between the European Audiovisual Observatory and various specialised national sources as well as the MEDIA Programme of the European Union.  LUMIERE provides country-by-country analysis of admissions for almost 9400 films released in Europe since 1996.  2001 data for 14 countries is now available, including data for the major European Union markets and the United States.

The Top 20 films by admissions in the European Union - 2001

Provisional ranking based on data from 8 countries (Austria, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom)

Source : European Audiovisual Observatory / LUMIERE database (http://lumiere.obs.coe.int/)

After FAF (AT), Le Moniteur du film en Belgique (BE), FFA (DE), ICAA (ES), Le film français (FR), Cinetel (IT), Screen Finance (GB), SFI (SE)

On the basis of available data, it can be confirmed that 2001 was an exceptional year for European cinema.  Market share for American films fell to around 66% (compared to 73.7% in 2000 and 69.2% in 1999).  Not since 1997 (65.8%) has there been a similar result.  Four European films figure among the Top 20: Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain, Bridget Jones's Diary and The Others all enjoyed successful careers on the majority of major European markets during 2001, while the German comedy Der Schuh des Manitu achieved 10.5 million admissions on the national market alone, but was also very successful in Austria and Switzerland.

The market share achieved by European films on the American market also showed an improvement at 4.5% as opposed to 3.6% in 2000. Nonetheless this market share is still less than those achieved by European films in 1999 (5.5%) and in 1997 (5.4%).

The Top 10 European Films by admissions in the United States and Canada  - 2001

(*) 3,1 millions admissions in 2000

Source : European Audiovisual Observatory after Variety

LUMIERE database : http://lumiere.obs.coe.int
European Audiovisual Obseravtory : http://www.obs.coe.int

Established in Strasbourg in December 1992, the European Audiovisual Observatory gathers, analyses and publishes information on the European audiovisual sector. A European public service organisation, it has 35 Member States and the European Union, represented by the European Commission, is also a member. The Observatory was created under the auspices of the Council of Europe and works with a broad network of partners, professional organisations and correspondents. Its main activities include contributing to conferences and creating publications, databases and a comprehensive Internet site.