Major films fail to revive Turkish cinemas as attendance remains low

The Turkish cinema industry has not yet recovered from the sharp decline in attendance caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2019, Turkish cinemas welcomed 59 million viewers. However, that number dropped significantly to 12.4 million in 2021, reflecting the pandemic’s impact.

Turkish cinema industry struggles to recover post-pandemic

In 2022, as the effects of the pandemic lessened, attendance rose to 36 million—about half of the pre-pandemic numbers. Last year, impacted by a devastating earthquake, cinemas drew 31.5 million visitors. This year, despite the release of highly anticipated blockbusters, attendance remains low.

Big-budget films such as “Joker 2” attracted just 344,000 viewers, while “Megalopolis” fared worse, with only 13,619 tickets sold. Similarly, “Gladiator 2,” expected to perform strongly, drew just 201,000 viewers in its first two weeks.

For the week of November 15–21, total attendance across cinemas in Türkiye reached only 647,000, a decrease compared to the same week last year.

Rising ticket prices deter Turkish cinema-goers

Industry experts attribute the declining numbers to two key factors: the growing preference of major Turkish filmmakers for digital streaming platforms and the steep rise in ticket prices.

In 2020, the average cinema ticket price in Türkiye was approximately $0.50. By 2024, this figure had jumped to $4.30, making cinema visits increasingly expensive for many. As a result, theaters continue to struggle to draw audiences, even for major film releases.