U.s. Films Boost Hold On Int'l Market Share

U.S. movies continue to increase their hold on the worldwide market, securing an estimated 72.1% market share in the 15 member states that made up the European Union last year, up from 71.2% the year before, according to figures released by the European Audiovisual Observatory.

The figures show that the slight rise in market share for American product came amid a shrinking market, with a fall in performance by European movies outside their own national markets (HR 5/10).

According to the figures released Monday, total admissions across the 15 member states hit an estimated 954 million in 2003, a 4.4% decline from the previous year's tally of 1 billion. The slowdown in ticket sales consolidated the previous year's slight fall.

The report also points out that titles from the 10 new member states — which joined the EU earlier this month — were almost absent from theaters in the original 15-strong membership.

On the basis of available data, the EAO estimates that 752 films were produced in the EU's 25 member states in 2003, a 3% increase of 25 films on the total of 727 films estimated for 2002.

Countries that showed an increase in production levels were Belgium (an estimated 17 films, compared with 14 in 2002), Denmark (from 19 films in 2002 to 24 last year), Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Sweden.

For Ireland, Portugal and Sweden, 2003 signaled a return to normal levels of production after quiet years in 2002.

Among the larger markets, France was the only country to register an increased level of production last year, with an overall total of 212 films — the highest on record. International co-productions comprised 107 of the films.

In Germany, Italy and Spain, levels dipped largely because of a fall in the number of co-productions, the EAO said.

Among the new member states, first estimates appear to indicate a drop in production volume in Poland and Hungary, whereas the number of feature films produced in the Czech Republic remained stable.