Spain 2024 Box Office: Despite ‘Inside Out 2,’ Revenues Dip 2%, Admissions Slip 5% Hit by Hollywood Strikes

As a lifelong movie enthusiast and someone who has spent countless hours in dark theaters, I must say that the 2024 box office results for both domestic and international films have been nothing short of astounding! The sheer variety of genres, from action-packed superhero movies to heartwarming animated flicks, has kept me thoroughly entertained all year long.

The success of “Inside Out 2” was particularly noteworthy for me, as the original film struck a deep chord within me and this sequel did not disappoint. The return of Wolverine in “Deadpool & Wolverine” brought back memories of my youth, when I eagerly awaited each new X-Men adventure.

I was also thrilled to see so many Spanish films on the list, such as “Undercover,” “Buffalo Kids,” and “A Moroccan Affair.” It’s always a pleasure to support international cinema and witness the diverse stories being told around the world.

One film that truly stood out for me was “The Wild Robot” – an unexpected gem that reminded me of my love for science fiction and robotics. I found myself rooting for the robot protagonist, just as I did for R2-D2 and C-3PO many years ago.

All in all, 2024 was a fantastic year for cinema, and I eagerly await the releases of 2025! And to top it off, let me leave you with this joke: Why don’t movies ever get sunburned? Because they always fade to black when they go outside!

Due to the impact of the Hollywood strikes in the previous year, the total box office revenue in Spain for the year 2024 saw a decrease of 2%, marking a halt in the three-year recovery trend that had been ongoing since 2021. This information was disclosed by Comscore Movies Spain on Monday. The number of moviegoers also decreased, with only 71 million admissions recorded, which is a 5% drop compared to the attendance figures from the previous year.

The total box office in Spain, amounting to €477 million ($496.1 million), is currently running 29% below the average for the years 2017-19 (pre-COVID-19) but remains 21% higher than the post-pandemic average for 2021-23. This suggests a gradual recovery, as both Spain and global box offices are slowly bouncing back from the impact of COVID-19 in 2020.

That said, some 2024 results in Spain were heartening. 

As a film enthusiast, I’ve noticed an interesting trend: During the first half of this year, ticket sales were 13% lower compared to the same period last year. However, in the second half, things picked up significantly, even surpassing the numbers we saw in the same period of 2023. This is a promising sign for the future, particularly looking towards 2025. – David Rodríguez, Comscore Movies general manager for Spain and Portugal.

In Spain, “Inside Out 2” earned a phenomenal €45.5 million ($47.3 million) at the box office, making it the second highest-grossing film since “Spanish Affair” in 2014 (€56 million: $58 million). However, it was just outperformed by “Avatar: The Way of Water” which made €51 million ($53 million) in 2020, as revealed by Rodríguez to EbMaster.

In summary, animated films made up five out of Spain’s top ten films in the year 2024. According to Rodríguez, families were the ones who quickly regained their momentum following the pandemic and have been thriving ever since.

The Spanish film titled “Father There is Only One 4,” which was jointly penned, directed, and acted by Santiago Segura, grossed an impressive €13.4 million ($13.9 million).

Over the past six years, I’ve witnessed five films by Segura that have consistently outshone their competitors to become the highest-grossing Spanish movies in Spain. His portrayal of a bumbling father figure within the “Father” series has significantly shaped the landscape of modern Spanish comedy, much like how Torrente did two decades ago with his boisterous character.

While not quite making it into the Top 10, romantic films are still delivering solid performances, with “It Ends With Us” earning €8.7 million ($9.1 million) and the romcom “Any One But You” bringing in €6.3 million ($6.5 million). Rodriguez points out that these movies tend to draw female audiences, which is also a factor in the success of Spain’s most successful release of the year so far, “Undercover,” a film based on the true story of a 20-year-old female police officer who successfully infiltrated the terrorist organization ETA.

The earnings of €3.3 million ($3.4 million) for “El 47” and €3.1 million ($3.2 million) for “A House on Fire” suggest a growing interest among Spanish audiences for high-quality commercial films suitable for adult viewers. This trend is further supported by the discounted cinema tickets available to seniors on Tuesdays in Spain, as noted by Rodríguez.

In 2024, Bowfinger Intl. Pictures, led by María Luisa Gutierrez and Segura, emerged as Spain’s leading distributor. They were the largest independent film producer in the country, with Beta Fiction Spain holding the position of the top independent distributor, boasting a 3.3% market share. Additionally, Atresmedia Cine supported five of the year’s top ten highest-grossing Spanish movies.

Spain Top 10 Highest-Grossing Films, 2024

1. “Inside Out 2,” Walt Disney, June 19, €45.53 million ($47.35 million) 

2. “Deadpool & Wolverine,” Walt Disney, July 25, €23.98 million ($24.93 million) 

3. “Despicable Me 4,” Universal, July 3, €20.74 million ($21.56 million)

4. “Gladiator II,” Paramount Int’l, Nov. 15, €19.59 million ($20.37 million)

5. “Moana 2,” Walt Disney, Nov. 29, €17.04 million ($17.72 million)

6. “Dune: Part Two,” Warner Bros, March 1, €13.89 million ($14.44 million)

7. “Father There Is Only One 4,” Sony, July 17, €13.44 million ($13.97 million)

8. “The Wild Robot,” Universal, Oct. 11, €10.37 million ($10.78 million)

9. “Kung Fu Panda 4,” Universal, March 8, €9.80 million ($10.19 million)

10. “It Ends With Us,” Sony, Aug. 9, €8.69 million ($9.03 million)

Spain’s Top 10 Highest-Grossing Spanish Films, 2024

1. “Father There Is Only One 4,” Sony, July 17, €13.44 million ($13.97 million)

2. “Undercover,” Beta Fiction, Oct. 11, €8.10 ($8.42 million) 

3. “Buffalo Kids,” Warner Bros, Aug. 14, €5.22 ($5.42 million) 

4. “I Hate Summer,” Sony, Aug. 23, €5.21 ($5.41 million) 

5. “Uncle Trouble,” Beta Fiction, March 22, €4.06 ($4.22 million) 

6. “A Moroccan Affair,” Universal, Dec. 1, €3.92 ($4.07 million) 

7. “The 47,” A Contracorriente, Sep. 6, €3.25 ($3.38 million) 

8. “A House on Fire,” Vercine, June 28, €3.06 ($3.18 million) 

9. “Checkmates,” Paramount Int’l, April 12, €2.54 ($2.64 million) 

10. “The Room Next Door,” Warner Bros, Oct. 18, €2.42 ($2.51 million) 

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2024-12-30 17:51