2024, year of records for the Grand Mercure cinema

The sad times of Covid, which did so much harm tocinema industryis well and truly finished. The big screen is finding color again, both nationally and locally.

In Elbeuf (Seine-Maritime), the spectators were faithful to the Greater Mercury which experienced one of its best years in 2024.

Record turnover and increasing number of admissions

The year 2024 did not start so well, however. Still affected by the screenwriters’ strike in the United States, which ended at the end of 2023 and which caused a drop in the number of American films broadcast worldwide, the first four months of the year were difficult for Mercure .

“We have a lot of entries with American cinema and there were very few at the start of the year because of the strike,” explains Richard Patry, the director of the Elbeuf cinema since 1987. We have made up for this delay. within eight months afterwards.

However, it was not an American film that brought spectators back to theaters, but a French film.

The Artus effect

The 1st ever, sort A little something extra. Artus’ film, with 11 million admissions in France, was a resounding success. And the Mercury did not escape the wave since 7,900 spectators came to see the film in Elbeuf, the highest number of admissions for a film in 10 years.

A real “tipping point” according to Richard Patry. Subsequently, the animated films Vaiana (7,300 admissions) or Vice Versa (6,800 admissions) made it possible to reach a number of 114,227 entries over the yearan increase of 5% compared to the previous year.

Even more edifying: Grand Mercury establishes the biggest turnover in its history over one year with more than 660,000 euros in revenue recorded in 2024.

A family audience

The fact of finding two animated films in the top 3 of the most viewed films at the Mercure d’Elbeuf says a lot about the profile of spectators that cinema attracts. In fact, these are mainly 15-18 year olds and the over 40s who come to spend time in the city’s dark rooms.

We have a very family audience, who come to the cinema to share moments with several generations. We have always had good results with Disney films, or very unifying films.

The so-called “young adult” public tends to focus more on establishments in large cities like Rouen, where they go to live or study after coming of age.

The Grand Mercury thus drains a very local audiencewhich promotes popular cinema. “We have very few spectators who come from elsewhere. We are in a typical local establishment cinema,” explains the director.

And when he looks at the programming for the months to come, he has every reason to believe that the dynamic will remain positive. With the returns in February of the Tuche family or the adventures of Paddington the Bear, then, in the following months, the releases of Bodins, Karate Kid, Kamelot and even Jurassic Park, the public has not finished rush into the five rooms of Mercury.

Start of renovation in 2025

The year 2025 will also be marked by the start of a “change of era” at Mercure according to its director. A major building renovation project should be launched during the new year.

Cinema has not known such works since 1999 and Richard Patry is impatient to give it “a second life”.

“We are completely redoing the cinema. We are going go from 5 to 7 rooms and there will also be a VIP room,” he announces, specifying that the cinema will remain open during the work (two rooms will remain accessible). A colossal project which will cost more than 5 million to the Grand Mercure and the town of Elbeuf, owner of the walls.

“We did legal work with the city which has been completed,” explains Richard Patry. “We are very proud of this very big project. We will have an establishment ready to face the entry objectives of tomorrow,” he looks forward to it. A renewal which will begin in September 2025.

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