Since their reopening in mid-May, spectators are back in theaters.
And theater managers are watching the summer with confidence on the eve of the Film Festival and the lifting of limited gauges on Wednesday.
“
The recovery went very well!
The true French passion for cinema is reaffirmed
“Enthuses Eric Marti, of Comscore France, specializing in the analysis of cinema attendance figures. Since May 19, the craze for dark rooms has not faltered. From the first week, after more than six months of diet, more than 2.2 million spectators were at the rendezvous, despite a gauge of 35% and the curfew. The enthusiasm of the first days then subsided a little, but week after week, the attendance figures continue to amaze professionals.
“
Cinema is alive, and more than alive.
People like it,
”continues Eric Marti to AFP: despite the gauges, gradually raised, cinemas have attracted some weekends more spectators than the years before the pandemic.
During the first month of recovery, 8.5 million spectators found their way to the theaters.
By way of comparison, theater attendance in May and June 2019 was 15.5 and 12.5 million spectators.
In October 2020, between the first and second confinement, French cinemas had registered 8.5 million admissions (CNC figures).
"
There is less stress, the vaccine is reassuring
"
On average, "
the levels remain below normal, but much better than what one could have feared
", analyzes Marc-Olivier Sebbag, general delegate of the Federation of French cinemas. "
But it's very good, taking into account the gauge, the Euro football and the good weather
". “
Compared to last year, when it was very complicated, we feel that the deprivation was too strong. There is less stress, the vaccine is reassuring
”, testifies from his Mégarama cinema in Garat (Charente) the operator Aurélie Delage.
Last year, it was mainly moviegoers who returned to the cinema.
This time, the audience is much more varied:
Adieu les Cons
, the Caesarized comedy by Albert Dupontel,
Conjuring: under the influence of the devil
, a horror film that attracted young people, just like
Demon Slayer: the train of infinity
, a manga, or
Tom and Jerry
for families, all feature in the cover's top 10.
“
We were told 'young people will be on the platforms'.
Well no, they are there!
"Exclaimed Aurélie Delage, in whom the"
pass culture
"also"
played a role
".
Annette, OSS 117, Kaamelott
or
Cruella
In the opinion of professionals, these figures bode very well for the rest of the summer, which theaters are approaching with two highlights: the Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival. The first, with its sessions at 4 euros which make it possible to multiply by two or three the attendance, was exceptionally stalled Wednesday, June 30, day of the end of the gauges, and will last until Sunday. And Cannes, from July 6 to 17, will shine the spotlight on cinema news, underlines Marc-Olivier Sebbag, in particular in theaters which will broadcast the ceremony and then the opening film,
Annette
by Leos Carax. Not to mention the American blockbusters, back in this reinvigorated market.
Disney's
Cruella
(released June 23) or
Fast and Furious 9
, the biggest start since the start of the pandemic at the North American box office (released in France on July 14 and screening on the beach at the Cannes Film Festival), are all titles that should fuel attendance.
The big French productions, whose release was postponed month by month, also arrive on the screens, like
Kaamelott
, eagerly awaited by fans of the series (July 21), and
OSS 117: Red alert in black Africa
(closing in Cannes , August 4 in theaters).
"
We are progressing, but we realize the work that remains to be done,
" warns Marc-Olivier Sebbag, however.
At the start of the September school year, the end of the financial aid which has kept the stock of 6,100 French rooms on a drip is looming.
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