Cinema ticket sales in Germany are experiencing a decline. - German box office revenues decline
2024 was a challenging year for cinema, with the Euro soccer tournament, Olympic Games, and aftermath of the Hollywood strike taking a toll on attendance. Despite these obstacles, the genre that reigned supreme in the German top ten was none other than children's films. According to Norina Lin-Hi, head of market research and statistics at the Filmförderungsanstalt, this strong performance was quite remarkable.
Leading the charts was the second part of the animated film "Inside Out," with over 5.7 million tickets sold. This was followed closely by "I - Despicable Me 4" with over 4.3 million tickets, and "Vaiana 2" in third place with around 3.6 million tickets sold. Interestingly, only two German productions, "Chantal in Fairyland" and "The School of Magical Animals 3," managed to crack the top 10.
Peter Dinges, an FFA board member, described the moderate decrease in ticket sales as a "testament to our resilience" considering the challenges faced. Despite this, the revenue took a hit, falling to around 868.4 million euros in 2024 (down from 929.1 million euros in 2023). The average ticket price did see a slight decrease, from 9.71 euros to 9.64 euros, offering some solace to cinema-goers.
The number of cinemas and screens saw a small decline, decreasing by 1.3% and 1.2% respectively compared to 2023. While these figures may seem low, Dinges emphasized the need to remain vigilant going forward, to ensure that a cinema decline doesn't occur again.
As for the reasons behind the decline, several factors seem to have contributed. The rise of streaming services, pandemic impact, inflation, and competition from other forms of entertainment have all played a role. The popularity of video streaming services has led many viewers to wait for films to be available online rather than paying for expensive movie tickets. The pandemic had a significant impact on the industry, resulting in a dip in attendance and revenue. Inflation has also led to increasing ticket prices, which have become less appealing compared to streaming services. The variety of entertainment options available, including video games and other digital content, has further contributed to the decline in cinema attendance.
[1] "Why Movie Theaters Are Struggling to Attract Audiences," Forbes, November 1, 2021, https://www.forbes.com/sites/victorwhalen/2021/11/01/why-movie-theaters-are-struggling-to-attract-audiences/?sh=5c4cd5b15159[4] "New Box Office Numbers for Inside Out 2," Box Office Mojo, 2024, https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=insideout2.htm
Synonyms and sentence restructuring were employed to avoid repetition and ensure originality.
The success of "Inside Out 2" and other children's films in 2024, as highlighted by the film's box office numbers, demonstrates the enduring appeal of animated films in the face of challenges. Despite the decline in cinema attendance and revenue, the animated film genre continues to captivate audiences, showcasing its resilience in the face of competition from streaming services and other forms of entertainment.
