Swiss cinemas experienced a nationwide decline in attendance last year, with overall admissions falling to 9.77 million-the lowest since 2016, excluding pandemic-affected years. Data released January 16 by the Federal Statistical Office indicates a notably steep drop in French-speaking Switzerland, raising concerns about regional disparities in moviegoing habits [[1]]. Despite the downturn, Swiss-produced films saw a notable increase in viewership, signaling continued support for local cinema [[2]].
Moviegoing experienced a downturn last year, according to data released January 16 by the Federal Statistical Office. The decline was particularly pronounced in the French-speaking region of Switzerland compared to the German-speaking region.
Attendance in French-speaking Switzerland fell sharply – by 15.6% to 2.9 million tickets sold – while German-speaking Switzerland saw a more moderate decrease of 4.3% with 6.5 million admissions, the Federal Statistical Office reported. Italian-speaking Switzerland fell in between, with a 10.7% drop and 279,000 moviegoers.
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The lack of major French-language film releases contributed to the lower numbers in French-speaking Switzerland. Interestingly, cinemas in larger cities within German-speaking Switzerland actually saw a slight increase in attendance, up 0.5%. The total number of cinema screens remained stable.
Swiss Films See Success
Despite the overall decline, Swiss cinema enjoyed a successful year, the Federal Statistical Office said. Nearly 985,000 viewers attended Swiss films, a 2.4% increase over the previous year. This performance underscores the growing strength of local filmmaking in the country.
In total, Swiss cinemas recorded 9.77 million admissions last year, approximately 8.3% fewer than the year before. Excluding pandemic years, 2025 marks the lowest attendance figures since 2016, the office noted. In 2016, Swiss cinemas welcomed 13.7 million moviegoers. The 9.77 million admissions in 2025 generated around 160 million Swiss francs in box office revenue.
ats/kkub
