29/01/2010

Although general admissions remained stable at 13.9 million in 2009 (slightly above 2008’s 13.1 million), Danish films registered a severe blow by losing as much as 16% of their audience, to end at 2.4 million (and a 17% market share), the lowest level since 2000.

The fall for Danish films was all the greater as their market share had peaked at 33% in 2008 thanks to the local blockbuster Flame & Citron [+see also:
trailer
film profile]. However, the following year, it was a series of Danish co-productions but Swedish in nationality – the three Millennium films – that conquered local audiences, with a whopping 15.8% of the market.

“Of course, we are proud that a team of some of the best skilled Danish film artists were a strong influence on the success of the Millennium films. But it is obvious that the trilogy, with more than two million admissions, had an impact on the market share of Danish film,” said Steffen Andersen-Møller, head of Distribution at the Danish Film Institute. He added: “We also realize that the Danish films released in 2009 did not appeal to moviegoers as much as the line-up of previous years. Some of the ‘safe cards’ were not in the offering in 2009, and some of those expected to perform actually did not meet the taste of the audience. “

Indeed, only one Danish film managed to find a place on the top ten 2009, the comedy What Goes Around (402,000 admissions) by Anders Matthesen, compared to four in 2008. The second most successful Danish film, Rumle Hammerich’s Headhunter, was only number 12 with 221,000 admissions. Other films that found their audience were The Christmas Party (183,000 admissions), the drama Aching Hearts and the children’s film Karla and Katrine (175,000 viewers each). Lars von Trier’s Antichrist [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Lars von Trier
film profile] was the tenth most successful Danish film (83,000 admissions).

Apart from the first, second and third Millennium films that were respectively number one, two and seven, US films occupied the rest of the 2009 top 10 chart.