PARIS – The French film industry is navigating a period of significant transition as streaming services reshape entertainment consumption. New data released December 16th indicates the French video-on-demand (VOD) market will reach nearly 3 billion euros this year, a 7.4% increase from 2024,even as traditional theatrical attendance and physical media sales continue to decline. This shift, highlighted by the recent premiere of Emily in Paris Season 5 in the capital, reflects a wider European trend of audiences migrating towards subscription-based digital platforms. The evolving landscape presents both opportunities and challenges for France’s historic cinematic culture.
The French film industry is seeing a significant shift as digital platforms continue to dominate the entertainment landscape. According to recent data released on December 16th, the French video-on-demand (VOD) market is projected to reach nearly 3 billion euros this year, a 7.4% increase from 2024.
This growth, while still substantial, is more moderate than last year and is primarily driven by a 10.7% increase in subscription numbers on streaming platforms. The shift reflects a broader trend of consumers embracing digital entertainment options.
Meanwhile, traditional video formats are continuing their decline. Revenue from rentals, online purchases, and physical media sales are all down. The market for DVDs is shrinking year after year. In 2014, the physical video market was worth 800 million euros – three times the value of video-on-demand. Those days are long gone.
“Since 2014, physical video has contracted by 77% and now represents only 160 million euros,” explained Gaëtan Bruel, president of the National Center of Cinema and Animated Image (CNC). American VOD subscription platforms, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and Apple TV+, now generate approximately 2.5 billion euros in the French market. Bruel also noted a significant migration of video consumption towards free platforms, sharing sites, and social media.
You have 52.9% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
