Despite the pandemic, cinemas recorded 96 million admissions over the year, according to figures released by the National Center for Cinematography (CNC). An increase of 47% compared to 2020, but very far from the 213 million admissions in 2019, the last year before the Covid, which marked a record in more than half a century.
But the figures are difficult to compare from one year to the next: in 2021, cinemas remained closed until May 19, then subject to gauges and curfews, and finally to the presentation of the sanitary pass. On the only months of opening, the decline in attendance is only a quarter (-23%) compared to the same period of 2019, notes the CNC. Internationally, France seems to be doing well, with the drop in attendance “least important among the five major European countries“, according to data from the specialist company Comscore, cited by the CNC. The decline”is also less important than that observed in the United Statess “.
In detail, the year was marked by a performance of French cinema (4 admissions out of 10), drawn by Kaamelot first part, BAC North and The Tuche 4. American films (with the locomotives Spiderman, James Bond and Dune) attract a little more, but the gap is one of the smallest observed in the last ten years.
These figures are a relief for cinemas, which admit having been supported by the public authorities during the pandemic, but still suffered “a difficult second year” according to the National Federation of French Cinemas (FNCF). They describe a year on a roller coaster: after 138 days of closure, a “Film Festival” which had its best result for five years, then a spectacular drop in attendance after the introduction of the health pass, and an end of ‘qualified year “exceptional”.
The bottling of films, so dreaded by professionals, did not take place, emphasizes Comscore: “there was no congestion phenomenon”, despite the return of American studios. However, attendance is more concentrated than before the pandemic on the biggest films: the first thirty titles represented one in two entries, notes Comscore. A figure that reflects the concern of some professionals that films less mainstream will no longer manage to come out of the shadows of big productions. “We remain attentive to ensure that all films can meet their audience.“, assured the president of the CNC Dominique Boutonnat, hoping to achieve a”regulation“around this subject”during the first trimester“.