– Cinemas generated nearly €6.9 billion in box-office revenue, while local productions continued to play a crucial role in sustaining attendance across several territories
The European cinema sector maintained a relatively stable performance in 2025 despite ongoing market challenges, according to the latest Annual Report published by the International Union of Cinemas (UNIC) during CineEurope in Barcelona. While admissions declined compared to the previous year, box-office revenues remained broadly resilient, highlighting the continued appeal of the theatrical experience and the importance of both local and international film production in attracting audiences.
According to the report, European cinemas generated close to €6.9 billion in box-office revenue in 2025, representing a modest 1.2% decrease year on year. Admissions fell by 4.4% to 873.2 million tickets across UNIC territories. The association notes that performance varied considerably between markets, reflecting differences in local production output and the uneven supply of major US studio releases following the disruption caused by the 2023 Hollywood writers’ and actors’ strikes.
Several territories nevertheless recorded positive results. Box-office revenues increased in Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Romania, the UK and Ukraine, demonstrating the resilience of theatrical exhibition despite ongoing recovery challenges.
The report underlines the continuing importance of Hollywood productions to the European market. Among the most successful titles across the continent were Disney’s Zootopia 2, Avatar: Fire and Ash and Lilo & Stitch; Warner Bros’ A Minecraft Movie and The Conjuring: Last Rites; Universal’s Jurassic World: Rebirth; Paramount’s Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning; and Sony’s 28 Years Later. These releases helped sustain audience interest during a year in which the overall film supply remained below pre-strike expectations.
At the same time, local productions proved decisive in driving attendance in several key markets. Germany recorded one of the strongest performances for national cinema, with domestic films accounting for 27.4% of total admissions, eight percentage points higher than in 2024. Michael Herbig‘s comedy sequel Manitou’s Canoe emerged as the country’s top-performing film, attracting more than 5 million admissions and generating €50.9 million at the box office.
Denmark posted the strongest attendance growth among Scandinavian countries, with admissions increasing by 4.5%. The result was largely driven by domestic productions, which achieved a record market share of 37%, compared to 23.3% the previous year. Six Danish films featured in the annual top ten, while the number of local releases more than doubled, rising from 19 in 2024 to 39 in 2025.
Italy also enjoyed a particularly strong year for national cinema. Local productions accounted for 32.7% of total box-office revenue, the highest market share recorded since 2016. The standout performer was Buen Camino, starring comedian Checco Zalone, which earned €36 million within its first seven days following its Christmas release and subsequently became the highest-grossing film in Italian box-office history during the early months of 2026.
Across the European Union, European films achieved a collective market share of 31.4% in 2025. Significantly, 42 local or European productions ranked among the five highest-grossing titles in their respective national markets, underscoring the continued relevance of domestic and regional filmmaking in an increasingly competitive audiovisual landscape.
The report also highlights a particularly strong end to the year. December 2025 generated $3.5 billion at the worldwide box office, becoming the highest-grossing December since 2019 and recording 10% growth compared to December 2024. This momentum carried on into the first quarter of 2026, with more than 15 European territories reporting double-digit growth, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Croatia, Serbia, Greece and the UK.
Industry forecasts have also become more optimistic. Gower Street Analytics recently increased its 2026 international box-office projection (excluding China) from $18.4 billion to $18.45 billion, driven primarily by strong performance in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. According to the report, box-office revenues in the EMEA region during May 2026 stood at 24% above pre-pandemic benchmarks, compared to 17% recorded during the previous post-pandemic peak in 2023.
While the report points to encouraging signs for the sector, UNIC stresses that long-term success will depend on maintaining meaningful theatrical exclusivity and ensuring a consistent flow of diverse content. The organisation argues that a healthy balance between Hollywood blockbusters, local productions and international films remains essential to sustaining cinema attendance and supporting the wider film ecosystem.
Presenting the report, UNIC CEO Laura Houlgatte emphasised the industry’s resilience despite ongoing challenges. She noted that cinemas continue to demonstrate their ability to innovate and adapt while providing audiences with a unique collective experience. Although market conditions remain complex, she argued that the sector’s cultural and economic significance remains as strong as ever, providing confidence for the future of theatrical exhibition across Europe.
The full UNIC 2026 Annual Report provides a detailed overview of cinema performance, market trends and policy developments across the organisation’s 39 member territories, and can be found here.
