Spain’s box office to surge 31% in 2023, 18% below pre-pandemic levels

Thanks to “Barbenheimer,” Spain’s box office revenue in 2023 rose 31% to 487.5 million euros ($541.1 million), compared with the pre-pandemic 2015-19 average of 596 million euros. This is still 18.2% below the million euro ($661.6 million) mark.

According to Comscore Movies Spain, which published its 2023 results up to December 29 on Friday, 74.9 million tickets were sold and attendance increased by 26% compared to pre-corona moviegoing, 24 %Diminished.

“2023 marks the third year in a row that the Spanish box office has rebounded,” said David Rodriguez, Comscore Movies general manager for Spain and Portugal. variety.

That said, Spain’s economic recovery in 2023 is expected to be similar to Italy’s, although it will not be as strong as France, Germany, and especially the UK.

“The Scandinavian economy is strong, and Spain and Italy have had extended restrictions on movie theater attendance due to the coronavirus,” Rodriguez said.

He added that Hollywood’s double attack, which delayed major releases around the world to 2024 and 2025, had caused “chaos” and frustrated a stronger BO rally in Spain.

“2024 is a year away from the transition period, and a full-fledged recovery to pre-pandemic levels will not occur until 2025,” Rodriguez predicted.

However, underscoring the continued rise in cinemas, four films, led by Barbie, grossed 33.7 million euros ($374.1 million) in Spain in 2019. It is the first time since then that it has surpassed the 20 million euro ($22.2 million) mark. .

“Barbenheimer” was Spain’s second-highest summer box office success in the past 10 years.

Disney’s highest-end animated film, which grossed just 12.8 million euros (about $14.2 million) in Spain, would have made news in the past. But “Elemental” was shown in Spain, matching global box office numbers, and parents knew they would soon be able to watch the movie on Disney+ after the country’s theatrical run was shortened.

The market share of Spanish films has fallen from 22% in 2022 to 17% this year. Two factors appear to be at play. Total box office revenue for local titles was flat year over year, not decreasing, but total box office revenue increased. Nine out of the top 10 Spanish films are family-friendly films such as “The Champions” sequel “Campionex” and “The Mummies” and comedies such as “Ocho Apellidos Marrokis”, all based on hit Spanish films. This was in contrast to 2022, when the scope was much wider.

Spain, top 10 highest-grossing films, 2023

1. Barbie, Warner Bros., July 20, 33.71 million euros ($37.41 million)

2. “Super Mario Bros. Movie,” Universal, April 5, 27.51 million euros ($30.53 million)

3. “Avatar, The Sense of Water,” Walt Disney, December 16, 2022, €25.47 million ($28.27 million)

4. “Oppenheimer,” Universal, July 20, 20.77 million euros ($23.05 million)

5. Fast & Furious X, Universal, May 19, 12.97 million euros ($14.39 million)

6. “Elemental,” Walt Disney, July 14, 12.78 million euros ($14.18 million)

7. The Meg 2: The Trench, Warner Bros., August 4, 11.98 million euros ($13.29 million)

8. “Championext,” Universal, August 18, 11.88 million euros ($13.18 million)

9. The Little Mermaid, Walt Disney, May. 26th, 11.85 million euros ($13.15 million)

10. “Indiana Jones and the Dial,” Walt Disney International, June 28, 11.79 euros ($13.08 million)

Top 10 highest-grossing Spanish films in Spain in 2023

1. “Championext”, Universal, August 18, 11.88 million euros ($13.18 million)

2. “Ocho apellidos marroquís”, Universal, December 1, 8.23 ​​euros ($9.13 million)

3. “Summer Vacation”, Sony International, July 6, 7.41 euros ($8.22 million)

4. The Mummies, Warner Bros., February 24, 5.91 euros ($6.56 million)

5. “One Hell of a Holiday!” Universal, April 21, 4.80 euros ($5.32 million)

6. “Co-Husbands,” Walt Disney, March 10, 4.06 euros ($4.5 million)

7. “The Beasts”, A Contracorriente, November 11, 2022, 3.41 euros ($3.78 million)

8. “La navidad en sus manos”, A Contracorriente, December 1, 3.04 euros ($3.37 million)

9. El Hotel de los Rios. Garcia and Garcia 2,” Walt Disney, March 24, 2.22 euros ($2.46 million)

10. “How to Be a Modern Man,” Warner Bros. International, June 2, 2.13 euros ($2.36 million)

Lorena Jaramillo contributed to this article.