Laura Carollo
Research expert covering cinema and film
Cinema industry in France - statistics & facts
France is famous for being one of the cradles of cinema as we know it. The cultural influence of French cinema, thanks to the work of renowned directors and actors, as well as prestigious awards ceremonies such as the Cannes Film Festival, is internationally recognized. More recently, much has been written about the robustness of the industry's return to post-pandemic normality, a trend that was confirmed in 2023. How did the industry get back on its feet so quickly, at a time when the international box office is still struggling?
The French film industry is supported by its consistent production, but also its regular and passionate audience. Internationally, the export of French films is doing well - the number of admissions of French movies in foreign theaters reached 71.9 million admissions as of 2023. While animated productions stand out at the international box office, the Academy Award-winning movie “Anatomy of A Fall” garnered more than 13 million euros in foreign theaters.
French filmmaking: a robust industry
Despite the impact the pandemic had on cinema attendance and production, the number of movies produced in France has stayed relatively stable over the past decade. Movie production peaked in 2021 with 340 feature films, before that number dropped to 298 in 2023. That same year, French film distribution amounted to 557.68 million euros revenue, of which around 503 million euros had been generated by first releases, thus reaching pre-pandemic levels.Success stories
“Titanic” is still the king of the French box office and remains undisputed, closely followed by the 2008 box-office hit “Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis”, which remains the most successful French movie of all time. As for 2023, “Avatar: The Way of Water” and “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” reigned over the French box office as the most successful movies of that year, proving the French audience’s taste for high-budget action-packed productions and animated flicks.A diverse and regular audience
The French themselves are big fans of the seventh art. Far from being an exclusive activity, cinema is part of daily life for many French people. According to a survey led in January 2024, 16.7 percent of respondents reported going to the theater at least once a week, and less than half of them once every month. In 2022, 48.3 percent of moviegoers were men and as of 2024, less a quarter were aged 60 years or older.The French film industry is supported by its consistent production, but also its regular and passionate audience. Internationally, the export of French films is doing well - the number of admissions of French movies in foreign theaters reached 71.9 million admissions as of 2023. While animated productions stand out at the international box office, the Academy Award-winning movie “Anatomy of A Fall” garnered more than 13 million euros in foreign theaters.
