In most countries, 2024 was somewhat of a disappointment at the box office. In almost all markets, theatrical attendance declined due to the hangover of the 2023 actors’ and writers’ strikes, which pushed several important new movies releases back from their original 2024 releases into 2025.
However, France is one market that bucked the trend, reporting an increase in moviegoing during 2024, despite the relative lack of new Hollywood releases. This increase results from government policies that encourage theatrical exhibition and cultural norms in France for the public to watch movies at the theatre.
In France, cinemas enjoy several important advantages that American theatres do not. While exhibitors in the U.S. are struggling to convince studios to expand the exclusive theatrical window beyond 17 days, French exhibitors are guaranteed 120 days to play a movie in their theatres before it becomes available online.
In addition, a governmental agency known as the National Center for Film and Moving Images (CNC) provides direct financial support to cinemas in smaller towns and subsidizes field trips for millions of schoolchildren to visit nearby cinemas. A complex system of taxes on movie ticket sales and licensing fees from TV broadcasters also funnels money back into French film production.
All these factors create a culture of movies and moviegoing that is seen as an important part of the nation’s cultural identity. “For Parisians, it’s a way of life,” said one French theatre owner, “They like to go to the movies.”