24/07/2007

A study carried out for the SPIO (Spitzenorganisation der Filmwirtschaft, a legal association founded in 1950 to represent the interests of the German film industry, which consists of 16 associations regrouping over 1,100 associated companies) for the first time shows the genre preferences of the German film-going public, from 2002 to 2006.

Comedies lead the way, with 26.5% of cinemagoers choosing this film genre in the five-year period. "Contrary to what is said, Germans have a great sense of humour, we just laugh better when together and what better place to do that than at the cinema?" said Jan Oesterlin, director of Zukunft Kino Marketing GmbH, in response to the figures.

After laughing, being moved attracts German audiences, with dramas accounting for 14.9% admissions. This genre is closely followed by children’s films (14.1%), which are showing strong growth. Year on year, comedy and drama have traditionally attracted similar numbers.

Children’s films increased their market share from 11.5% in 2005 to 21.5% in 2006. Action movies were not far behind in fourth place with 11.6%, followed by the fantasy (9.2% admissions, 2002-2006), science fiction (7.2%), thriller (6.8%) and horror genres (3.9%).