Global Cinema Attendance Dropped in 2024
🍿 Movie Theater Ticket Sales Plummet Worldwide in 2024, First Decline Since the COVID-19 Pandemic 🍿
Never seen before: The global sale of cinema tickets took a hit in 2024, plummeting by a whopping 8.8% compared to the previous year, according to a shocking revelation by the European Audiovisual Observatory (EAO) at Cannes Film Market. This dismal statistics marks the first yearly decline since the pandemic-ridden year of 2020.
Martin Kanzler, an EAO rep, broke down the numbers stating, "In 2024, a total of 4.8 billion cinema tickets were sold worldwide, generating estimated revenues of 28 billion euros. That's 500 million fewer tickets than in 2023."
Post-pandemic jitters seem to be lingering, with the global audience only managing to fill about 68% of the cinema seats compared to 2019, the last pre-pandemic year. In contrast, the attendance level swelled to over 70% in 2023. Experts ponder the possibility that we might be witnessing the emergence of a new attendance equilibrium.
But not all regions are feeling the heat equally – Europe is weathering this storm better than most. The continent managed to keep cinema attendance at 75% of its 2019 level, and the decrease in ticket sales was just 1.7% in 2024.
In sharp contrast, the world's largest market, China, took a monumental 22% dive in attendance.
It's no secret that certain countries relish a cinematic experience more than others. France and Ireland proudly top the list for their high cinema density per capita and a commendable average attendance.
When it comes to production, it's a three-horse race: the United States, China, and India dominate the scene, with an astounding 81% of productions bearing their seal. As for Chinese and Indian films, they primarily stay put on their home turf, while Hollywood films traverse borders with ease, thanks to their finely-tuned distribution network and substantial international fanbase.
In Europe, American films continue to reign supreme, with audiences flocking to their movies en masse. In 2024, a whopping 63% of spectators tuned into an American blockbuster. But it's not all doom and gloom for European films – they've been making a steady comeback and carved out a 33% market share for themselves. This represents the best result in four years and even ten years if we exclude the pandemic year of 2020.
[1] Meta: Overall, the global sale of cinema tickets dropped by 8.8% in 2024 compared to 2023, following the first annual decline since the pandemic-induced closure of cinemas.
[2] The decline may represent the industry settling into a "new normal" of reduced attendance relative to pre-pandemic numbers.
[3] Hollywood films have an advantage due to their vast distribution network and wide international appeal.
[4] Europe shows resilience in the face of international film distribution challenges, with relatively high attendance rates and a bright outlook.
[5] Regional variations in attendance suggest recovery rates are not uniform globally. Countries like France and Ireland lead in cinema density and regular attendance.
The following statistics reveal that the global sale of cinema tickets experienced a decline of 8.8% in 2024 compared to the previous year, marking the first decline since the pandemic-induced closure of cinemas, as reported in the movies-and-tv entertainment sector.
In comparison to other regions, Europe appears to be weathering the storm better, with its cinema attendance maintained at 75% of its 2019 level, indicating resilience in the face of international film distribution challenges within the movies-and-tv entertainment sector.
