01/03/2007

A total of 1,748 feature films, of which 372 were domestic titles, were shown on Spanish screens last year. These figures, announced by the ICAA , mark an increase compared to 2005 (1739 films, 352 local titles) of 21.28% over 20.35% and are furthermore in line with the rise in production (see news).

However, when it comes to an analysis of admissions – and despite the good performances of Alatriste [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], Volver [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Agustín Almodóvar
interview: Carmen Maura
interview: Pedro Almodóvar
interview: Pénélope Cruz
film profile] and Pan's Labyrinth [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] – the market share of local productions fell from 16.68% to 15.43%.

This downward trend is followed by European films in general, which registered an overall market share of 27.2% (against 37.12% in 2005), while US films did much better with market share of 71.22% (against 60.29% achieved the previous year).

The box office top ten was dominated by US titles, with the exceptions of Alatriste (3.13m admissions, nearly €16.5m grossed), which came in a comfortable fourth after Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (€27.9m), The Da Vinci Code (€26.73m) and Ice Age 2 (€19.3m), while Almodóvar's latest film, Volver, came in at number seven (1.9m admissions, €10.12m).

The number of venues also registered a considerable decrease from 1,052 film theatres (and 4,401 screens) in 2005 to 936 (and 4,299 screens) in 2006.