Cinema admissions across Europe fell in 2024 despite a slim increase in box office numbers, according to a new report by Europe’s International Union of Cinemas (UNIC).
UNIC represents cinema trade associations and operators across 39 European territories.
The body reported that total admissions across the region reached over 934.2 million, a 2.6 per cent drop in admissions compared to 2023. Box office takings hit €7.1 billion, a slight increase of 0.03 per cent in revenue on the year.
The report states that multiple European countries, including France, the UK, Ireland, Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Turkey, and Greece, outperformed their 2023 figures. France is highlighted in the report. The country recorded 181.5 million admissions, a performance the report said was “bolstered by local blockbusters like Un P’tit Truc En Plus, Le Comte de Monte-Cristo and L’Amour Ouf, collectively selling over 25 million tickets.”
The market share of European films in the EU reached 32.8 per cent in 2024, an increase from 27.7 per cent the previous year.
2024 also marked the only year of the last decade when animated films made up three of the top 5-grossing titles of the year globally. Those titles were Inside Out 2, Despicable Me 4 and Moana 2. Inside Out 2 broke multiple box office records in Europe. The film became the third highest-grossing non-local release of the decade in Italy within 11 days, contributing two-thirds of June’s box office. In Spain, the film broke all box office records, contributing to an increase in 2024 attendance from -13% in the first semester to +1.5% in the second half of the year, the report stated.
While focused on the past year, UNIC’s report also gives a glimpse at current box office trends. The report stated that in January 2025, 59% of the international box office (excluding China) was generated in the EMEA region.
Portugal performed +12% above the pre-pandemic benchmark and +31% above the same period last year. Walter Salles’ I’m Still Here contributed €800,000 to the local box office in just two weeks, becoming the third biggest Portuguese language film of the decade.
Discussing the report, UNIC President Phil Clapp said that despite challenges, “the European cinema sector continues to show strength and resilience, underpinned of course by our audience’s desire to see films in their natural home, on the big screen.”
“Once again, the diverse offering that European cinemas make available to the public, both in terms of film content but also across a range of experiences, demonstrated our ability truly to offer something for everyone,” Clapp added. “I look forward to seeing that positive story develop further as the film slate continues to strengthen across the end of the year and into 2026.”
