Portuguese cinema theatres continue to lose profit and viewers as part of an alarming tendency that has been progressing in recent years, according to the national cinema and audiovisual arts institute (ICA).
From January to July this year there was a decrease of around 800,000 viewers and a loss of more than €5 million in profit, compared to the same period during 2012.
During these seven months last year, 7,436,426 filmgoers feasted their eyes on the big screen, resulting in nearly €40 million worth of box office income. However, this year, 6,635,349 viewers visited a cinema, resulting in a total box office of €34.6 million.
Statistics show Fast & Furious 6 as the movie with the most filmgoers across the country (423,000), followed by the third entry in the comedy trilogy Hangover Part III. Three animation motion pictures complete the top-5: The Croods; Despicable Me 2 and Monsters University, an indication that children are an important consumer for the sector.
Part of the drop in viewers is likely related to the reduced offer brought on by the closing of 70 cinema screens run by Socorama-Castello Lopes, 60 of which are expected to re-open before the end of the year, including the Portimão and Guia halls (see story above).
Meanwhile, Algarcine, the Algarve-based film distributor that recently re-opened the Lagos cinema and also runs halls in Portimão and Olhão, registered a 49.5% increase in the number of its total viewer, as well as a 40% rise in its box office income.
