12/01/2006

French features accumulated 64,8 million admissions in 2005, a drop of 14,1% compared to 2004 and a market share estimated at 37% according to the information published yesterday by the CNC. Slightly less than the market share achieved in 2004 (38,6%), the proportion of spectators watching French production in 2005 beat the performance of 2003 (34,9%) and allowed 16 films last year to break the million admissions barrier (identical to the total in 2004) and above all 38 local features to seduce more 500 000 cinephiles (a record for the last 10 years). However, the big theatrical successes did not reach in 2005 the level of 2004 (4 French films with more than two million admissions against 7). Worth noting among the encouraging signals for the season ahead that the production of films initiated in France beat all records in 2005 with a total of 187 accredited features (167 in 2004, 183 in 2003 and 163 in 2002), a piece of good news revealed by the director general of the CNC, Véronique Cayla.

(The article continues below - Commercial information)

For its part, American production saw its market share drop to 46% in 2005 (47,7% in 2004 and 52,2% in 2003). US films last year registered its worst result in French admissions since 1998 (80,6 millions, down 12,2% compared to 2004), but this figure is relative since two of the four box-office leaders of 2005 (Harry Potter And The Goblet of Fire and Charlie And The Chocolate Factory) were British. And so, the market share of others films (non-French and non-American ) last year registered a leap to 17% of market share (against 13,7% in 2004 and 13% in 2003).

(Translated from French)