The number of people attending cinemas in Switzerland has dropped by 18 percent in five years, data from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) has revealed. Though theatres across the cantons have still not fully recovered from the dip in demand which began during the COVID pandemic, last year saw a resurgence of Swiss-made films.

Cinemas in Switzerland continue to struggle post-pandemic

According to the FSO, cinemas welcomed 10,24 million people through their doors in 2024, a drop of 2 percent compared to 2023. After falling to a record low of 4,35 million admissions in 2020 - caused largely by the COVID lockdown - ticket sales have failed to recover as quickly as hoped. 

As a result, cinema admissions in Switzerland have now fallen by 18 percent in five years. The 10,24 million tickets sold is also a far cry from the most recent peak year, when the silver screen welcomed 18,77 million cinemagoers in 2002.

Though the FSO did not cite any reasons for the decline, changing habits around how people watch films has been attributed to a worldwide drop in cinema profits. The rise of straight-to-streaming service films, the streaming services themselves, cinema prices and the availability of films on television channels have all had a profound impact on the industry.

2024 the third-best year on record for Swiss films

However, while cinema visitor numbers have dropped, 2024 was an excellent year for Swiss films. 9 percent of cinema admissions (907.000 tickets) were for Swiss-made films, making it the third most successful year on record, only behind 2003 (909.000) and 2006 (1,55 million).

Much of this success was attributed to the hit comedy Bon Schuur Ticino. The film itself, released in late 2023, depicts a German-speaking police officer in a world where Switzerland has a referendum to pick a sole national language, and much to his dismay chooses French. 

The film was so successful that it was also one of the 10 most-watched films in German-speaking Switzerland in 2024 and the eighth most-watched Swiss film of all time. It was followed by the film adaptation of the hit Swiss TV show Tschugger called “Tschugger - Der lätscht Fall” and "Wisdom of Happiness - A Heart-to-Heart with the Dalai Lama." 

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