07/03/2011

The results for the year 2010 in German cinemas are very disappointing, according to figures recorded by the German film regulating body FFA, with only 126.6m admissions compared to 146.3m in 2009, which represents a drop of 13.5%. Meanwhile, total box-office takings fell from €976.1m to €920.4m, the losses having been limited to 5.7% because of the higher price of 3D screenings.

German cinema’s market share dropped back down to a level even lower than in 2005 (when it hit 17.1%): in 2010, local films achieved a market share of only 16.8% (for 20.9m admissions), compared to 27.4% in 2009 (for 39.9m admissions).

"Without German cinema, we’re not doing well!", said FFA director general Peter Dinges, who does however point out that the phenomenon was not unexpected after two excellent years (in 2008, the market share for local productions amounted to 26.6%).

He also said it was due in large part to the break in creative work caused by the disagreements over the new film law, which led to a freeze in funding. Although the disagreements have now been resolved (see news), these events do indeed explain the fact that in 2010, 189 German titles out of 507 were released, compared to 217 out of 513 in 2009.

Figures should pick up in 2011, thanks to the immense success of Til Schweiger’s latest, Kokowääh [+see also:
trailer
film profile], and the forthcoming theatrical release of the new 3D Vicky the Viking movie (Christian Ditter’s Vicky and the Treasure of the Gods, set to be launched in September); Roland Emmerich’s Anonymous [+see also:
trailer
film profile]; Hermine Huntgeburth’s Tom Sawyer; Simon Verhoeven’s Men in the City 2 [+see also:
trailer
film profile]; and Paul W.S. Anderson’s 3D international co-production The Three Musketeers, starring Christoph Waltz, Mads Mikkelsen and Milla Jovovich.

We mustn’t forget either that the takings for 2010 are the fourth best score of all time. The arrival of 3D has clearly brought about a change in patterns and behaviour. In 2010, one viewer in six saw a film in 3D even though the latter only represent one movie in 20. Moreover, 11 of these 3D productions were among the 32 titles to have exceeded the 1m viewers mark.

Finally, while the number of screens continues to decline, digitisation will undoubtedly have a positive effect on the exhibition sector. It has certainly had a great impact on the video market, which continues to grow year after year.

(Translated from French)