In 2020, French cinema reached 13.7 million admissions and 86.6 million euros in receipts in foreign theatres. It experienced a difficult year, losing nearly 70% of its international box office. But despite most key indicators being in the red, French cinema preserved a strong foothold in theaters and festivals abroad.
KEY FIGURES AND TRENDS
- 13.7* million admissions for French cinema (45.3 million in 2019, down 69.8%*) / Note: In France, French films generated 29.2** million admissions in 2020, down 60.7%** compared to 2019
- 86.6* million euros in receipts for French cinema (275.6 million in 2019, down 68.6%*)
- 9.5* million admissions (69.5%* of the total) for majority-French productions (38 million in 2019, down 75%*)
- 10.6* million admissions (77.6%* of the total) for French-language films (26.9 million in 2019, down 60.6%*)
- 611* French films on release in foreign theaters (869 in 2019, down 29.7%*)
- 1,398* releases of French films (2,836 in 2019, down 50.7%*)
- 2* French films sold more than 1 million tickets abroad (7 in 2019)
- 28* French films drew more than 100,000 spectators abroad (68 in 2019)
- Russia becomes the leading territory in terms of admissions for French films in 2020, ahead of Spain and Italy*
- 163 French films were selected across 8 major international film festivals*** and accounted for 19.5% of the films presented (199 and 19% in 2019, down 18.1% and up 2.6%)
Complete data can be found in the attached document (in French or English)
Note: *The figures given in this brochure are provisional and non-exhaustive. The definitive figures will be available in the fall and will inevitably be higher. / **Provisional data estimated by the CNC. / ***Berlinale, Busan, Cannes, Rotterdam, San Sebastián, Sundance, Toronto, and Venice.
