small rooms “in great shape”, how can we explain this phenomenon?

2024 was an exceptional year for French cinema! Boosted by successful films, attendance has increased, and some cinemas have even returned to their pre-Covid attendance and the good figures of 2019, particularly in the region and in local independent cinemas.

The French and the 7th art, this is a love story that is not about to end. On a global scale, France is an exception. We are one of the only countries where the number of admissions to cinemas increased in 2024.

A success that we owe in particular to three French films: “Un Ptit Truc en plus”, “The Count of Monte Cristo” and “L’amour ouf”, which were a hit last year. These three productions alone total 25 million admissions, or 44% share of the French cinema market.

Their success contributed to the increase in cinema attendance: +1% nationally.

But small rooms are also popular! The user-friendliness and affordable prices continue to build public loyalty. In Normandy, the Noé group records figures well above this average: 6% of admissions in the group's 47 independent cinemas.

“We are the only country in the world where attendance is increasing! We had an excellent year in 2024: in Normandy, we exceeded 3 million spectators, it’s a historic year!”, she congratulates Richard Patry, president of the Noé Cinémas group.

All our cinemas in small and medium-sized towns are progressing.

Richard Patry, president of the Noé Cinémas group

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“In Yvetot, we are at a little over 200,000 spectators, it is our best year ever in these cinemas, this is also the case in Montivilliers, at the Omnia in Rouen, it is almost the case in Elbeuf and Fécamp, we really have cinemas that are in great shape!”

These cinemas in small and medium-sized towns have, for some, regained their pre-covid attendance, and have retained their spectators. “We appreciate the proximity and the atmosphere, it’s nice”says a regular at the Néo room in Yvetot.

But how can we explain this phenomenon? Proximity is what makes these independent cinemas special. “We are really located in the heart of cities, we mobilize the public a lot. Here, on Sunday afternoons, there are sometimes four generations of the same family who come to see a film.” adds Richard Patry.

For a reason that is difficult to explain sociologically, when you have big French comedies, the Western territories react better and when it's years of big American films, it's more the Western territories. East.

Richard Patry, president of the Noé Cinémas group

Cinema is also the favorite cultural leisure activity of the French, “it is in the DNA of French men and women, the density means that we are always less than fifteen minutes from a cinema”.

The year 2025 should also hold some nice surprises with films like “Les Tuches 5”, which could be a hit at the box office.