This is a strong rebound compared to the 95.5 million admissions in 2021 (+59.2%), but still down 26.9% compared to the pre-Covid period, with 207, 9 million admissions on average between 2017 and 2019, according to the National Film and Moving Image Center (CNC).

Unlike in 2020 and 2021, no room was closed for health reasons due to Covid in 2022, even if health restrictions such as the vaccination pass and the ban on the sale of confectionery were not lifted until mid-March.

"This is a very encouraging result in a still atypical context. France recorded one of the best recoveries in the world, with a more limited decline compared, for example, to the United States, South Korea, Germany, to Spain or Italy", declared in a press release Dominique Boutonnat, president of the CNC.

The top 5 films in 2022 remain the prerogative of American blockbusters.

With already nearly 8 million spectators, "Avatar: the way of the water" has dethroned "Top Gun: Maverick" (6.7 million) at the head of this ranking.

Cinema: 152 million admissions in France in 2022 © Sylvie HUSSON / AFP

Followed by "Minions 2: Once Upon a Time Gru" with 3.9 million admissions, then "Jurassic World 3: The World After" (3.5 million) and "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" (3, 4 million), according to the audience analysis company Comscore.

American films were a "engine" when, on the French side, only films "with a certain originality" resisted, to the detriment of big comedies for example, Eric Marti, a specialist at Comscore, told AFP on Friday.

Highly anticipated, the third part of "What have we done to God" attracted only 2.4 million spectators, far from these previous records, while "November" on the attacks of 2015 2.3 million entries.

"Positive dynamic"

However, "American films have never been as rare on screens as in 2022", due to the reduction in the number of releases since 2012 but also a few direct releases on streaming platforms, while "the number of unreleased French films has returned to its level of 2019", noted Comscore.

According to the CNC, French films won 40.9% of the market share in 2022 - against 37.2% on average over 2017 to 2019 - exceeding 40.5% for American films, which are more inclined to achieve big scores. attendance.

Another notable fact: the return of the public in 2022 has been more towards local cinemas, in particular in the city center, to the detriment of large complexes, whose attendance trend has tended to erode for several years.

If in January and February, attendance at French theaters was down more than 40% compared to the 2017 to 2019 average, according to the CNC, "the year ends better than it started", s' was congratulated at the end of December with AFP Marc-Olivier Sebbag, general delegate of the National Federation of French Cinemas (FNCF).

Actress Zoe Saldana at the world premiere of the film "Avatar 2" in London, December 6, 2022 © ISABEL INFANTES / AFP

Spectators were particularly present during the Christmas holidays.

Comscore indicates a record of more than five million admissions for the week of December 21 to 27, while the days of December 27 to 30 equaled or exceeded 1 million each, boosted by the success of "Avatar 2".

"This positive dynamic should continue throughout 2023, thanks to a dense and diversified film offer," said the FNCF.

On the menu: the new "John Wick", the return of Tom Cruise in "Mission: Impossible" and that of Harrison Ford in "Indiana Jones".

"Ant-man" is set to usher in a new "phase" of the Marvel Universe and Margot Robbie transforms into "Barbie."

© 2023 AFP