Tehran, Iran – Iranian media reports have revealed a sharp decline in cinema attendance. The number of moviegoers dropped by approximately 4 million people during the first eight months of this year compared to the same period last year.
This decline is mainly due to the sharp deterioration in the country’s economic conditions.
A 20% decrease in audience numbers
Local media reported that the number of moviegoers between the beginning of March and November 15th reached 16,655,000. This compares to more than 20 million during the same period last year, representing a 20% decrease.
Total sales
Sales reached 1.32 trillion tomans, up from 1.154 trillion tomans last year. This reflects higher ticket prices coupled with a decline in viewership.
The “bread and livelihood crisis” is dominating
Film experts and the news website Iran Watch attributed this significant decline in public interest to several factors. Foremost among them is the unprecedented rise in inflation and the economic crisis, which has forced Iranian families to drastically reduce their spending on entertainment. Citizens are now compelled to prioritize basic necessities (bread and sustenance) over leisure activities such as going to the cinema.
Iran Watch noted that “the 12-day war between Iran and Israel and the prevailing social conditions in Iran directly affected the number of viewers.”
Films top the list despite the decline
Despite the overall decline in popularity, some films recorded good sales:
The best-selling film was “The Old Man,” which topped the list with 2.21 million viewers and grossed 181 billion tomans. “The Man with Glasses” came in second with 2.274 million viewers and 176 billion tomans. “Clash” took third place with 1.686 million viewers.
It is worth noting that last year’s top-selling films exceeded 4 million viewers, such as “Texas 3,” highlighting the significant difference in viewership compared to this year.
