Buoyed by the success of films like A little something extra or Le Comte de Monte Cristocinemas in France had a prosperous year in 2024.
One million more than in 2023: the improvement continues for French cinemas, which recorded 181.3 million admissions this year. And thus confirm a certain French exception.
According to the CNC, which publishes cinema attendance figures this Tuesday, France is in fact the country which is experiencing “the best post-Covid recovery of all comparable countries” such as Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom or Spain. All these countries, as well as the United States, record a drop in attendance compared to 2023.
Without returning to pre-Covid attendance levels – 213.9 million admissions in 2019, 201 million in 2018, 209 million in 2017 – French cinemas are performing well.
Vigor of French cinema
It is in particular thanks to the vigor of French cinema that French cinemas stand out. These are indeed films like A little something extra, Le Comte de Monte Cristoor Love phew which attracted audiences to theaters. Thus offering French cinema a market share unprecedented for 15 years and the release of Welcome to the Ch'tis et Asterix at the Olympic Games.
France is thus a global “double exception”, rejoiced Olivier Henrard, interim president of the CNC, on France Inter.
With 44.4% in 2024, this market share of French films is “much higher than the pre-crisis average of 37.2%”, underlines the CNC. Three French films occupy the top 5 entries, alongside Vice-Versa 2 et Vaiana 2.
What are the most viewed French films in 2024?
Artus' film brought together more than 10 million spectators, Monte Cristo more than 9 and the film by Gilles Lellouche, more than 4.7 million. Without forgetting other successes made in France like Mr Aznavour (2 millions), Cocorico (1,9 million), Private preserve (1,9 million), A fanfare (1,5 million), Retirement home 2 (1,5 million).
“Today, French cinema knows how to do everything: all genres and all stories, for all audiences”, welcomes Olivier Henrard in the CNC press release.
“Certainly, overall, theater attendance in France remains “12.8% below the average” before Covid. “But in the last months of 2024, we have almost returned to the figures before the pandemic”, noted Olivier Henrard, hoping that the trend will be confirmed in 2025.
