Germany’s cinema industry faces a deepening crisis as it marks its 130th anniversary, with experts warning of continued closures and declining attendance figures, despite a recent commercial success. Media scholar Klaus Goldhammer, in an interview with the “Rheinische Post”, expressed concern that the celebratory year has failed to reverse a worrying trend exacerbated by the burgeoning streaming landscape.
While Bully Herbig’s “Kanut des Manitu” achieved remarkable box office figures, drawing over three million viewers, Goldhammer emphasized this as an outlier within a wider picture of decline. “The slight downward trend in attendance continues” he stated, underscoring the challenge posed by competition from online platforms. “Cinema is simply no longer a genuine growth market because of streaming.
The concerns extend beyond mere attendance. Christine Berg, head of the German Film Theaters Association (HDF), highlighted a critical disconnect between cinema offerings and the preferences of younger audiences. “We are not adequately serving the demographic between 14 and 25 – or 30” she explained. A lack of relevant content actively discourages engagement from this crucial segment.
Furthermore, Berg has issued a call for the German film industry to lessen its overwhelming dependence on American productions. Currently, US films dominate approximately 75% of the German market, a statistic Berg deems unsustainable. The HDF’s stated ambition is to raise the market share of German films to over 30%, representing an annual sales target of 35 million tickets. Last year saw German films achieve a market share of just over 20%, equivalent to roughly 17.7 million tickets sold.
Analysts suggest this current reliance on US imports stifles the development of a unique German cinematic identity and restricts opportunities for domestic filmmakers, potentially leading to a long-term shrinking of the industry. The challenge now lies in devising strategies – including financial incentives, targeted marketing and a renewed focus on homegrown talent – to reinvigorate German cinemas and recapture the attention of a generation increasingly accustomed to on-demand entertainment.