In 2024, Sète cinemas recorded 128,000 admissions: which films attracted spectators?

In 2024, Sète cinemas recorded 128,000 admissions: which films attracted spectators?
In 2024, Sète cinemas recorded 128,000 admissions: which films attracted spectators?

Raphaël Vion, director of the Sétois cinemas Nouveau Palace and Comoedia, takes stock of this record year for French cinema.

The figures at national level should only be announced during the month of January, but on the Singular Island, the director of the Véo-Bassin de Thau company is already pleased with the attendance at the two Sète cinemas. “We had around 128,000 entries: 50,000 at the Nouveau Palace and 78,000 at Comoedia. NWe have therefore exceeded our internal objective which was 125,000″indicates Raphaël Vion. An attendance which largely dethrones the figures of previous years. In 2023, 115,000 cinema tickets had in fact been sold compared to 95,000 in 2022, which was still “the year of transition after Covid”.

The Count of Monte Cristo, in the lead in Sète

However, the year did not get off to a flying start. Particularly at issue: the screenwriters' strike across the Atlantic which had delayed the release of several American productions. But that was without counting, in the spring, on the release of the comedy A little something extra which has now exceeded the 10 million admissions mark. A French film which proved to be a real “surprise” for French cinemas: “No one saw it coming.”

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In Sète too, the enthusiasm was present since the production by Artus attracted 4,300 spectators in the cinemas. “This is our second best result of the year after the Count of Monte Cristo which made 7,000 entries here,” says Raphaël Vion. The feature films that follow in the ranking are Emilia Perezthe musical drama by Jacques Audiard, which attracted 3,330 people, Phew Love by Gilles Lellouche with 3,000 entries, followed byA Fanfare et Vaiana 2, “which are still in operation and should therefore each reach 3,000 tickets sold”.

Attract young audiences

2024 was therefore a very good year for French cinema, whose productions often achieved top scores at the national and Sète box office. Due “the quality of the proposals” but also because “American cinema is finding it more and more difficult to diversify. They have exhausted the supply of Marvel films and do not necessarily offer original creations”analyzes the director of Véo Sète. Thus, French productions such as When autumn comes by François Ozon, The most valuable commodity or even M. Aznavour with Tahar Rahim found their audience on the singular island, like the Seeds of the wild fig tree by Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof or the latest Clint Eastwood Juror #2 which together have 2,600 entries.

For the youngest, Despicable Me 4 or even Mufasa found their spectators in Sète. Even if “young audiences are more difficult to reach. It’s more complicated to attract them to films other than these blockbusters”indicates Raphaël Vion who, for this purpose, has set up, since April, meetings during school holidays combining screenings of short films, manual workshops, film concerts, etc. “And it started well”he greets, while confiding that, this year, sessions intended for schools have increased by 20 to 30%. A work that he also wishes to continue in 2025.

And for 2025?

For the new year, “it’s still too early”according to Raphaël Vion, to bet on the films that will be at the top of the box office. However, a few “flagship” feature films are already planned for the start of the year. Like the new Almodovar – “an author who works very well in Sète” –, Asian productions – “which the Sétois are fond of” – the biopic on Bob Dylan with Timothée Chalamet or, in a different style, the new episode of Tuche. “We will try to do as well as this year,” hopes the director for 2025. And to wish to continue to “offer the widest possible range” to Sète movie buffs.

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