the essential
With just under 200,000 admissions, the Grand Palais recorded its best year in 2024. Certain films such as Un p’it truc en plus and l’Amour ouf have boosted attendance. Others have not had the same success.
There are always good surprises and disappointments. At the Cahors cinema, 2024 is no exception to the rule. Especially since last year, in line with the national image, the Lot establishment recorded record attendance with between 190,000 and 196,000 entries, which is at least 5,000 more than the year before. In France, 181 million admissions to cinemas were recorded in 2024, an increase of 0.5% compared to 2023. Cinemas are rubbing their hands. A look back at the films that worked best, those that didn’t have the expected effect and finally the releases expected this year.
A little something extra at the top of the top 3
“When the film came out in May, it was madness,” remembers Laura Blanc, executive assistant at the Grand Palais in Cahors. A preview is organized: the room is full. The cinema team doesn’t need more to take the temperature. “250 people attended the first session in a room with nearly 300 seats. Afterwards, we were still on a high level,” she adds. The phenomenon film remains on display until August. And the success was such that Artus’ feature film boosted the other films showing at that time. In second place, unsurprisingly, the Count of Montre-Cristo. Released in June, the opus was popular with spectators until August. The three hours of the film did not deter the public… “On the contrary, we have noticed since last year that long films, 3 hours for The Count of Monte Cristo, 2h30 for Love phew, 3 hours for Oppenheimer last year appeal to spectators”, notes Laura Blanc. In third place is Vice-Versa, slightly ahead of Amour ouf, another French production. Otherwise, among the nice surprises of the year: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Vaiana 2, Sonic 3 and Mufasa.
Joker 2, Largo Winch… Looks like flops to me
Subsequent films were not as successful. Starting with Their Children After Them which obtains a sad first place among the anticipated films which performed the least in theaters. The adaptation of the Prix Goncourt by Nicolas Mathieu had already failed to attract critics. “However, it is in the lineage of Amour ouf, we find Gilles Lellouche and it is a love story between two young people from working-class neighborhoods,” wonders Laura Blanc. Joker 2 will not go down in history either. “We understood from the first screening that attendance would not be good. It must be said that on social networks, the reviews were catastrophic and that the audience aged 15 to 25, the film’s target audience, is very sensitive to it,” adds the specialist. To this lackluster inventory, we must add Largo Winch 2, Borderlands, Argylle, Madame Web.
The most anticipated films this year
Without discussion: The room next door by Pedro Almodovar scheduled from Wednesday January 8. “It was a hit at the Venice Film Festival and should do well here too,” hopes Laura Blanc. In January, A Perfect Stranger will also be released with Timothée Chalamet, the biopic on Bob Dylan, already in the running for the Oscars. The latest Mission: Impossible is also particularly anticipated in theaters, just like the new Superman and Avatar.
