The Swedish cinema industry faced another challenging year in 2024, with a noticeable dip in attendance. Preliminary statistics from the Swedish Cinema Owners Association reveal that Swedes made 10.6 million cinema visits in 2024, a decrease of 600,000 compared to 2023. This decline continues a trend of dwindling viewership, attributed to a confluence of factors impacting the industry in recent years. The lingering effects of the pandemic, coupled with inflation, a significant Hollywood strike, and the ever-increasing competition from streaming services, have created a perfect storm of challenges for cinema operators.
Despite the downturn, Peter Fornstam, chairman of the Swedish Cinema Owners Association and CEO of the Svenska Bio chain, remains optimistic. He attributes the relatively moderate decline to the release of several popular Swedish films, specifically highlighting “Den sista resan” (The Last Journey), as well as the success of the Jönssonligan and “Håkan Bråkan” franchises. Fornstam had anticipated a more substantial drop in attendance, given the scarcity of new releases due to the Hollywood strike, which significantly impacted the availability of films for screening. The performance of these domestic films proved crucial in mitigating the impact of the strike and bolstering overall attendance figures.
Fornstam maintains a confident outlook for the future of cinemas, emphasizing that the core issue lies not with declining interest in the cinematic experience, but rather with the availability of films. He points out that per-film attendance figures have not decreased, indicating that audiences are still eager to visit cinemas when compelling content is available. The key to recovery, he argues, is a consistent and robust supply of new releases. With a steady stream of movies to attract audiences, Fornstam believes cinemas are well-positioned to navigate the current challenges and remain a vibrant part of the entertainment landscape. He stresses that the industry’s resilience hinges on the availability of content, not a waning public appetite for the big screen.
The impact of the Hollywood strike, primarily attributed to disputes over residuals and the use of artificial intelligence, significantly disrupted film production and release schedules. This disruption had a global impact, affecting cinemas worldwide, including Sweden. While the fires in Los Angeles in late 2024 raised concerns about potential further disruptions to the film industry, Fornstam downplayed their immediate effect on feature film production. He noted that much of the large-scale film production occurs outside of Los Angeles, citing the ”Avatar” films being produced in New Zealand as an example. He acknowledged, however, that television production, heavily concentrated in Hollywood studios, would likely be more significantly affected.
While confident in the long-term viability of cinemas, Fornstam acknowledged the disruptive and personally devastating impact of the strike and fires on many individuals working within the industry. He drew a distinction between the well-established figures like Tom Hanks, who are likely to weather the storm, and the countless individuals working in less secure positions who face significant financial hardship and uncertainty. This human cost of the industry’s turmoil underscores the broader implications of these disruptions, extending beyond the purely economic considerations of cinema attendance and box office revenue.
The top ten most-watched films in Sweden in 2024 offer a glimpse into audience preferences and the types of films that drew crowds despite the challenging circumstances. Animated films, including sequels like ”Inside Out 2,” ”Despicable Me 4,” and ”Kung Fu Panda 4,” performed strongly, as did franchise installments like ”Deadpool & Wolverine” and ”Dune 2.” The success of “Den sista resan” and “Håkan Bråkan 2” demonstrates the continued appeal of Swedish productions in the domestic market. The list also features “Gladiator II” and “It Ends With Us”, indicating the enduring draw of both action spectacles and popular adaptations. This mix of genres and origins reflects a diverse cinematic landscape, albeit one grappling with significant external pressures. The performance of these films underscores the importance of a varied and appealing film slate to attract audiences back to the cinema.
