11/07/2008

After 2007 – one of the worst years for Spanish film, both in terms of box office and market shares – the first half of 2008 is looking hopeful, with excellent box office results. Indeed, earnings for the first six months of this year have doubled compared to the same period last year, according to figures published by the Ministry of Culture. Between January 1 and June 22, Spanish features garnered €39.2m, compared to €19.3m in 2007.

This spectacular upturn is due to the performance of two films in particular: Álex de la Iglesia’s The Oxford Murders [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Álex de la Iglesia
interview: Gerardo Herrero and Mariela…
film profile] and Miguel Bardem’s Mortadelo and Filemon: Mission - Save the Planet [+see also:
trailer
film profile], which claim third and fourth place, respectively, in the box office rankings, just behind Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and 10,000 BC.

Between them, the two Spanish titles have grossed €15.9m (€8.2m for the former and €7.7m for the latter), i.e. just over 40% of the total box office for Spanish film.

Market shares for domestic productions have risen slightly compared to last year, although the increase is less dramatic than that seen for box office takings. Spanish films accounted for 14.06% of admissions (almost 7m), whereas in 2007 they represented 13.51%.

It should be remembered that the first half of 2007 was particularly problematic for Spanish film and the situation was only partially remedied by the outstanding and unexpected success of The Orphanage [+see also:
trailer
film profile], which was released in early October and drew 4.4m viewers.

(Translated from Spanish)