Press

We serve European and international journalists with our press releases. We regularly publish facts, figures and analysis from our latest publications or conference presentations in the form of press releases targeting the journalist community.


All press releases are available in English, French and German. We also offer free copies of our publications to bona fide journalists who quote our work in their articles or write about our publications.

Our experts and analysts are often solicited to answer journalists' questions and participate in radio and television programmes. We are very glad to do this inasmuch as the work involved in producing our publications allows.

If you wish to join our unique network of journalists covering the audiovisual industries, or simply wish to receive our press releases for information, send an email to the Observatory's Press Officer (see details on the right). We look forward to satisfying your information needs.

For any press releases prior to 2017, please contact [email protected]

Latest press releases

Back Cinema attendance in the EU drops in 2018

Cinema attendance in the EU drops in 2018

On the occasion of the 69th Berlin International Film Festival the European Audiovisual Observatory releases its first estimates for European cinema attendance in 2018. After three years of above average levels, the Observatory estimates that total admissions in the European Union decreased by 3.0% to 955 million tickets sold. This is 29.4 million less than in 2017 and the fourth lowest level registered in the EU since 2009. Including non-EU territories admissions in Europe declined as well, decreasing from the 2017 record level of 1.29 billion to 1.25 billion which still represents the third highest admission level of the past decades.

Cinema attendance in the European Union 2009-2018 provisional
In millions; estimated; calculated on a pro-forma basis for the 28 EU member states


Source: European Audiovisual Observatory

 

Just as in 2017, admissions developed in quite a heterogeneous manner across Europe in 2018: cinema attendance increased in eight and decreased in 13 EU markets, while remaining practically stable in 4 of the 25 EU markets for which provisional data were available. Geographically speaking the moderate decline in EU cinema attendance was primarily caused by a major drop in German admissions (-16.9 million, -13.9%) as well as a comparatively poor year-on-year performance in France (-8.9 million, -4.3%) and Italy (-7.0 million, -7.0%). Out of the five major EU markets, only the United Kingdom registered an increase in cinema attendance of 3.7% to 177 million admissions. This is the highest admissions level in the UK since 1970. Admissions also grew to record levels in Poland (+3.1 million, +5.5%), Romania (+0.6 million, +4.5%) and the Czech Republic (+1.1 million, +7.3%).

Outside the EU, the Russian market passed the 200 million benchmark for the second time, albeit declining from 211 million to 200 million admissions. This is the second highest level achieved in recent history and confirms Russia’s position as Europe’s largest cinema market in terms of admissions along with France which reclaimed the throne by a wafer-thin lead in 2018. Similarly cinema attendance in Turkey, the seventh largest European cinema market, declined only slightly on its 2017 record level from 71.2 million to 70.4 million admissions.

It is too early to analyse EU admissions by origin, but the first available figures would seem to suggest that the drop in admissions was largely caused by a year-on-year decline in admissions to US films. Like in 2016 and 2017, it looks as though there were no break-away successes in 2018. Top ranking films in the EU include Avengers: Infinity War (US / GB), Incredibles 2 (US) and Bohemian Rhapsody (US / GB). Compared to 2017, national market shares of EU films increased in 13 and declined in 11 of the 24 EU markets for which 2018 data were available. The UK registered a 44.8% market share for UK qualifying productions (including US studio-backed, UK-made titles). This was the highest national market share among EU markets, though independent UK productions captured only 11.7%. Ranking second was France with a national market share of 39.3%, ahead of Poland (33.1%). Other EU markets with high national market shares include Denmark (29.4%), Lithuania (27.5%), Finland (23.6%), Germany (23.5%), the Czech Republic (23.3%), Italy (23.2%) and Latvia (22.1%). Outside the EU, Turkey confirmed its leading position in terms of national market share with Turkish films capturing 62.9% of admissions in 2018.

Key Cinema Data in European Countries 2017 –2018 provisional

1) Based on admissions except for GB and IE where it is based on GBO. Includes minority co-productions with the exception of CH, DK and ES.

2) National market share for UK qualifying films based on GBO in the UK & Ireland up to and incl 27/01/2019 (incl minority co-productions and US studio-backed films).

Source: European Audiovisual Observatory

Link to this data in the form of an Excel table

Notes:

  • Data have been collected with the collaboration of the EFARN (European Film Agency Research Network).
  • All 2018 figures are provisional.

Our next cinema figures will be released just before the Cannes Maché du Film.

To be added to our press listings, send an email to: [email protected]

Strasbourg 07/02/2019
  • Diminuer la taille du texte
  • Augmenter la taille du texte
  • Imprimer la page
Films of the latest Observatory workshops and conferences

Creators in Europe’s Screen Sectors – Sketching Present and Future Challenges - 7 June 2022

The European cinema sector - diverging paths? - 20 May 2023

FOCUS 2023: Key Trends in the Film Sector - 19 May 2023

 

Contact

If you wish to receive our press releases, please send an email to Alison Hindhaugh

  + 33 (0) 3 90 21 60 10 (direct)

Photos and Logos

To download our logo, obtain a photo of our team or our headquarters simply click below.

                      

Watch our videos