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Cinema-goers in Bosnia and Herzegovina went to the cinemas more than in previous years - 1.3 million viewers in BiH cinemas in 2023
The greatest cinema success was achieved by the American hit "Barbie", the regional hit "Guardians of the Formula" and the domestic "Excursion"
The trend of growth and development of the cinema market in Bosnia and Herzegovina continued in 2023 as well. In 2022, according to data for cinemas in Bosnia and Herzegovina collected and processed by the Sarajevo Film Festival, there was an increase in the number of viewers, as well as an increase in revenue generated at the box office.
This year, according to preliminary data, there were almost 1.3 million viewers in cinemas in Bosnia and Herzegovina, i.e. 1,284,834 viewers, and the revenue generated at the box office amounts to almost nine million BAM, i.e. BAM 8,826,380.50.
Compared to last year, box office in 2023 recorded an increase in revenue of more than 20 percent (21.87 percent), and the number of viewers increased by almost 15 percent (14.87 percent) compared to last year: in 2022, there were 1,118,550 viewers in cinemas in BiH.
When it comes to the number of films shown, compared to last year 2022, there were almost ten percent more films in cinemas this year – a total of 235 films were shown in 2023, compared to last year when 215 films were shown in cinemas.
Out of the 235 films, there were 204 new films and 31 films from the previous year. There were 116 American, 104 European and nine domestic films in cinemas. There was a total of 39 films from the region.
This year as well, American films were the most watched in cinemas in BiH. Out of the total number, 77.12 percent of viewers watched films of American productions in cinemas, 19.93 percent watched films of European productions, and 2.05 percent watched films of domestic productions, which is a significant decrease compared to 2022, when domestic films were watched by 6.11 percent of viewers.
American films benefited the most when it comes to the income generated at the box office as well. The highest gross in cinemas in BiH, as well as in the rest of the world, was achieved by the film "Barbie" with 23.44 percent of the total box office revenue in this category. “Barbie” earned more than half a million marks: BAM 558,087. In second place is "Avatar: The Way of Water" with BAM 382,271, and in third place is "Oppenheimer" with BAM 343,905. In fourth place is the film "Fast X" with BAM 282,719, and in fifth place is "Meg 2: The Trench" with BAM 245,672.
In terms of the number of viewers, the ranking is similar, but not the same: "Barbie" was the most watched in cinemas in BiH, with 84,386 viewers. In second place is "Oppenheimer" with a significantly smaller number of viewers compared to "Barbie" – "Oppenheimer" had 48,042 viewers; in third place is "Avatar: The Way of Water" with 40,649 viewers, in fourth is "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" with 36,395 viewers and in fifth is "Fast X" with 33,987 viewers.
Four films of predominantly Bosnian-Herzegovinian production were premiered this year in domestic cinemas: "Excursion" by Una Gunjak, "The Glory of Emptiness" by Jasmin Duraković, "Die Before Death" by Ahmed Imamović and "The Butterfly Effect" by Admir Buljugić. The biggest success by the end of the year was the movie "Excursion" with 6,351 viewers and a revenue of BAM 41,054, which is 54.75 percent of the total revenue generated at the box office in this category. In second place is "The Glory of Emptiness" with 3,853 viewers and BAM 22,683. In third place is "Die Before Death" with 864 viewers and "The Butterfly Effect" with 647 viewers. In other words, four new films of predominantly Bosnian production in 2023 recorded a total of 11,715 viewers and revenue of BAM 74,978. When this year is compared to the previous two years, statistics show that domestic films were the least watched films this year. A year earlier, in 2022, four films of predominantly domestic production were also in cinemas, with a total of 58,831 viewers and a profit of BAM 373,578. The biggest success of that year was the film "Amanet" by Mirza Begović, which had 30,732 viewers and revenue of BAM 188,667, and in second place was "May Labor Day" by Pjer Žalica with 23,279 viewers and BAM 152,927. A year earlier, in 2021, there was only one film of predominantly domestic production in cinemas – "Not So Friendly Neighbourhood Affair" by Danis Tanovic, with 35,341 viewers and BAM 230,558.
When looking at the statistics of regional films (the territory of the former Yugoslavia), this year the highest revenue at the box office in cinemas in BiH was achieved by the film "Guardians of the Formula" by Dragan Bjelogrlić: BAM 103,120 (it had 18,527 viewers).
The average price of a cinema ticket in BiH is BAM 6.87.
There are currently 22 cinemas in BiH with 71 halls in 15 cities (Sarajevo, Mostar, Banja Luka, Bihać, Tuzla, Zenica, Višegrad, Konjic, Trebinje, Prijedor, Busovača, Foča, Maglaj, Zvornik, Gradiška).
TOP 5 FILMS IN 2023. IN BiH CINEMAS BY REVENUE GENERATED AT THE BOX OFFICE
1. "Barbie" (USA): BAM 558,087
2. "Avatar: The Way of Water" (USA): BAM 382,271
3. "Oppenheimer" (USA): BAM 343,905
4. "Fast X" (USA): BAM 282,719
5. "Meg 2: The Trench" (USA): BAM 245,672
TOP 5 FILMS IN 2023. IN BiH CINEMAS BY NUMBER OF VIEWERS
1. "Barbie" (USA): 84,386
2. "Oppenheimer" (USA): 48,042
3. "Avatar: The Way of Water" (USA): 40,649
4. "The Super Mario Bros. Movie“ (USA): 36,395
5. "Fast and Furious 10" (USA): 33,987
TOP 5 EX YU FILMS IN 2023. IN BiH CINEMAS BY REVENUE GENERATED AT THE BOX OFFICE
1. “The Guardians of the Formula” (Serbia): BAM 103,120
2. "Storm" (Serbia): BAM 95,091
3. "3211" (Serbia): BAM 78,412
4. "Indigo Crystal" (Serbia): BAM 62,059
5. "Bosnian Pot" (Croatia): BAM 52,805
TOP 5 EX YU FILMS IN 2023 IN BiH CINEMAS BY NUMBER OF VIEWERS:
1. "Storm" (Serbia): 20,085
2. "The Guardians of the Formula" (Serbia): 18,527
3. "Indigo Crystal" (Serbia): 12,050
4. "3211" (Serbia): 11,725
5. "Heroes of Halyard" (Serbia): 9,440
TOP 4 FILMS OF PREDOMINANTLY BOSNIAN PRODUCTIONS:
1. "Excursion": 6,351 viewers, BAM 41,054
2. "The Glory of Emptiness": 3,853 viewers, BAM 22,683
3. "Die Before Death": 864 viewers, BAM 6,115
4. "The Butterfly Effect": 647 viewers, BAM 5,126