- Slumping box office revenue in cinemas
It turns out that cinema attendance took a dip in the first half of the year. Approximately 41.9 million tickets were purchased during this period, as reported by the Film Funds Association based in Berlin. This represents a decrease of 7.3% compared to the same period in the previous year. If we fast-forward to the first half of 2023, the figure would be approximately 45.2 million tickets sold.
Peter Dinges, a board member at the FFA, expressed his disappointment, noting that despite the adult filmmakers and performers in America striking for several months, leading to some film releases being pushed back in Germany, the decline in ticket sales was "restrained" at less than 10%.
Fewer lengthy films in 3D and lesser-known movies contributed to the overall decrease in revenue, which stood at around 403.5 million euros (compared to 455.1 million euros in the same period last year). However, the good news is that moviegoers enjoyed lower ticket prices, with the average cost per ticket being 9.63 euros instead of more than 10 euros.
At the forefront of the German box office was the second installment of the sci-fi epic "Dune: Part Two," which sold over 3.1 million tickets. Close behind was the comedy "Chantal in Fairyland" (approximately 2.7 million tickets) and in third place, the Pixar hit "Inside Out 2" (around 2.6 million tickets sold). Other popular films included "Kung Fu Panda 4" and "Beyond the Pond." Besides "Chantal in Fairyland" and "A Million Minutes," only two German productions managed to secure a spot in the top 10.
Despite the dip in attendance, it appears that film theaters are maintaining their stability, boasting 1,221 companies, 955 locations, and 4,895 screens. Dinges insists that cinema continues to be a highly sought-after cultural experience nationwide. The industry remains hopeful for the second half of the year, with a cautious optimism in tow.
Despite the impact of the filmmakers' strike in America and some delayed releases in Germany, the decline in cinema attendance in Germany during the first half of the year was "restrained" at less than 10%, as mentioned by Peter Dinges, a board member at the Film Funds Association based in Germany.
Germany, being a significant market for cinema, continues to maintain its stability with 1,221 companies, 955 locations, and 4,895 screens, assuring Dinges that cinema remains a popular cultural experience nationwide.
