Fewer visitors

The year ends without a happy ending for cinemas

Mario Hueber is optimistic that 2025 will be better for cinemas(Bild: Hollywood Megaplex)

The blue and yellow cinemas recorded a significant drop in visitors this year compared to 2023. The strikes in the USA are said to be to blame. However, the coming year should be better again.

"It was a difficult year," summarizes Mario Hueber, spokesman for cinemas at the Lower Austrian Chamber of Commerce. A look at the figures makes this clear: the 23 cinemas with their 101 screens had to cope with a drop in attendance of around 15 percent this year.

However, the reasons for this are easy to find. "The months-long strike by writers and actors in the USA meant that many films were postponed, resulting in a much smaller selection," explains Hueber. Even a strong finish with films ranging from "Alles steht Kopf 2" to "Ich - Einfach unverbesserlich 4" and "Deadpool vs. Wolverine", which attracted significantly more guests to the cinemas than expected, could not save the day.

Dinosaurs and superheroes
Looking ahead to the 2025 cinema program, however, Hueber is optimistic that the recent positive trend will continue. Blockbuster sequels such as "Jurassic World", "Captain America", "Avatar" and "Das Kanu des Manitu" have already been announced. "These promising titles are fueling our hopes for a significant recovery," says the Managing Director of Hollywood Megaplex Cinemas.

Irrespective of the programming, however, the operators also have to overcome very general challenges. "These include the shortage of skilled workers as well as exploding wage and operating costs. We need relief," says Hueber.