Québec, September 21, 2021. – In 2020, Québec movie theatres welcomed 4.3 million moviegoers—14.4 million fewer than in 2019—which represents a 77% drop in admissions. Attendance dropped the most in Montréal (-79%), Laval (-79%) and Outaouais (-80%), three regions where movie theatres closed earlier during the second wave of the pandemic. This was revealed in the publication La fréquentation des cinémas en 2020 by the Observatoire de la culture et des communications of the Institut de la statistique du Québec.
Movie theatre admissions in Québec, weekly data, 2020 and 2015–2019 average, Québec
Source: Institut de la statistique du Québec, Observatoire de la culture et des communications du Québec.
Decline in the number of new releases in theatres
In 2020, 611 movies were screened in theatres (-34% from 2019), including 230 new releases (-61%). The drop in the number of new releases was more pronounced as distributors postponed the release of several films to 2021 due to the extended closure of theatres. Faced with this situation, movie exhibitors turned to screening successful films from past years.
Share of Québec films up
Attendance declined for films of all origins in 2020. The declines were particularly marked for films that usually have the largest market share in Québec: U.S. films
(-88%), Québec films (-62%), French films (-69%) and British films (-70%). In this unusual year, the share of Québec films stood at 13.1%, higher than their share in 2019 and the average for the 2016–2020 period (9.5%). Québec films had a market share of over 12% in all regions except Laval (9%) and Montréal (8%).
Box-office results impacted by the pandemic
Of the top ten most viewed films in 2020, three were released in theatres in 2019, seven in 2020, but only one, Tenet, opened after the pandemic began. These ten most viewed films accounted for 46% of the year’s admissions. In comparison, the top ten films in 2019 garnered 34% of attendance. The gangster film MAFIA INC topped the admissions chart for Québec films, ahead of the comedies Merci pour tout and Mon cirque à moi. These three films accounted for 49% of all box office admissions to Québec films in 2020.
These results come from the Film Screening Survey conducted by the Observatoire de la culture et des communications of the Institut de la statistique du Québec.
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The Institut de la statistique du Québec produces, analyzes and disseminates official, objective and quality statistical information on various aspects of Québec society. It is responsible for conducting all statistical surveys of general interest. The relevance of its work makes it a strategic ally for decision makers and all those wishing to learn more about Québec.