Global Cinema Ticket Sales and Revenue in 2024
Global cinema ticket sales fell by 8.8% in 2024 compared to 2023, marking the first decline since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the European Audiovisual Observatory (OEA) during a conference at the Cannes Film Market on Friday.
“A total of 4.8 billion cinema tickets were sold worldwide in 2024, generating estimated revenues of €28 billion (approximately $31 billion),” said Martin Kanzler from the OEA.
“This represents 500 million fewer tickets sold compared to 2023,” Kanzler specified. Since 2020, a challenging year for cinemas due to health restrictions, attendance had been gradually increasing globally.
Cinema Attendance Compared to Pre-Pandemic Levels
“We might have reached a new plateau,” Kanzler suggested. “Cinema attendance now accounts for 68% of the level seen in 2019, the last year before the pandemic, compared to over 70% in 2023.”
In this relatively stagnant context, Europe has fared better than other regions worldwide. Cinema attendance reached 75% of the 2019 levels, with a mere 1.7% decrease in ticket sales in 2024.
Regional Performance and Market Share
Conversely, in China — the world’s largest market with a 21% market share — attendance dropped by 22%. In Europe, France and Ireland stand out for their high density of cinema screens per capita and a high average attendance rate.
“The vast majority of productions, precisely 81%, are linked to films produced in three countries: the United States, China, and India,” noted Manuel Fioroni, an OEA analyst.
Unlike Chinese and Indian productions, which are almost exclusively sold in their domestic markets, American films are exported and easily cross borders due to their distribution network and international audience.
In Europe, 63% of viewers watched an American film in 2024. Meanwhile, European productions are regaining ground and achieved a 33% market share.
Key Questions and Answers
- What was the global cinema ticket sales and revenue in 2024? A total of 4.8 billion cinema tickets were sold worldwide in 2024, generating estimated revenues of €28 billion (approximately $31 billion).
- How did cinema attendance compare to pre-pandemic levels in 2019? Cinema attendance reached 68% of the level seen in 2019, with a decrease from over 70% in 2023.
- Which regions performed better in terms of cinema attendance? Europe resisted better than other regions, with attendance reaching 75% of the 2019 levels and a mere 1.7% decrease in ticket sales in 2024.
- How did major film-producing countries perform in 2024? The United States, China, and India accounted for 81% of global film productions. American films were exported and had a strong international presence, while European productions regained ground with a 33% market share.
