Despite the release of big budget films, French cinemas empty out in June. According to CNC estimates, only 9.9 million admissions were recorded compared to 11.1 million in 2022 and 12.5 million in 2019, evening attendance drops of 12 and 26% respectively. The month of June 2023 would even be the worst in 27 years, excluding the health crisis. “This sharp halt in market dynamics prevents a third consecutive month from being above pre-covid levels, and in particular from the 2017-2019 reference period”, notes the specialist magazine Box-office pro.
Except for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, no movie surpassed one million admissions last month. And this despite the release of big American productions, like The Little Mermaid, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, Fast
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In cinemas, we are still expecting the return of spectators in July. On Monday, the FNFC announced a good start for the Film Festival, with 7% more spectators than in 2022. Since 1985, dark rooms have offered a single price of 5 euros per entry in June. In 2023, it was postponed from July 3 to 5. For this 38th edition, professionals in the sector hope to maintain a positive momentum. The results should be there thanks to the release of the long-awaited last installment of the Indiana Jones saga, on June 28. The month of July should be boosted by the releases Miraculous (July 5), Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning part 1 (July 12), Barbie and Oppenheimer (July 19).
Politicians and professionals in the sector are worried. Several reasons are put forward to explain this drop in cinema attendance. The debate on the price of seats has been put on the table on several occasions, in particular by Kad Merad, who protested at the microphone of RMC of the prices practiced and far too high according to him. MP Nupes Sarah Legrain even tabled a bill to regulate tariffs.
However, in May, professionals in the sector prided themselves on finding their spectators. “The rooms are full, and certainly the weather is good and settles in the long term, but the entries to the cinema do the same”, confided Marc-Olivier Sebbag, general delegate of the National Federation of French cinemas (FNCF) at the Parisian. Moreover, the first half of the year had been rather positive with 97.1 million spectators, a 26% increase compared to 2022, but still 12% less than in 2019. A misleading increase according to Sarah Legrain, who explained on May 25 that this does not “feel on two or three films like Super Mario Bros”.
