2021 was another difficult year for cinemas: 63% fewer spectators than in 2019

In 2021, our country had 75 establishments that run a cinema theatre as their main activity.
There were 7,453,797 spectators. This is a 35% increase compared to 2020 (5,538,934 spectators). However, compared to 2019 (19,877,878 spectators), this remains a sharp decline of 63%.
The gross revenue excluding VAT also rose to 64.9 million euros, an increase of 44% compared to 2020 (45.0 million euros) but also still a sharp decrease compared to 2019 (160.2 million euros).
The Flemish Region accounted for 46% of spectators, the Brussels Region for 17% of spectators and finally Wallonia for 37% of spectators.
Cinema operation in Belgium
Belgium | 2021 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 1 cinema | 2-7 cinemas | 8 cinemas and + | |
Cinema businesses | 75 | 16 | 34 | 25 |
Cinemas | 466 | |||
Seats | 96,657 | 3,814 | 22,562 | 70,281 |
Screenings | 301,196 | |||
Spectators | 7,453,797 | |||
Gross revenue (excl. VAT) | 64,878,721 | |||
Following the modification of the Royal Decree of 29 September 2019, the universe had to be updated. This implies that the figures for 2018 are no longer comparable with the figures from previous years. Indeed, from 2018 onwards, only establishments operating a cinema as their main activity are surveyed. So, for example, cultural centres are no longer included in the statistics. |
Cinema operation in Brussels-Capital region
Brussels-Capital region | 2021 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 1 cinema | 2-7 cinemas | 8 cinemas and + | |
Cinema businesses | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
Cinemas | 68 | |||
Seats | 14,377 | 496 | 1,062 | 12,819 |
Screenings | 50,733 | |||
Spectators | 1,234,147 | |||
Gross revenue (excl. VAT) | 10,904,861 | |||
Following the modification of the Royal Decree of 29 September 2019, the universe had to be updated. This implies that the figures for 2018 are no longer comparable with the figures from previous years. Indeed, from 2018 onwards, only establishments operating a cinema as their main activity are surveyed. So, for example, cultural centres are no longer included in the statistics. |
Cinema operation in Flanders region
Flanders region | 2021 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 1 cinema | 2-7 cinemas | 8 cinemas and + | |
Cinema businesses | 33 | 2 | 18 | 13 |
Cinemas | 224 | |||
Seats | 46,116 | 296 | 11,588 | 34,232 |
Screenings | 123,452 | |||
Spectators | 3,452,407 | |||
Gross revenue (excl. VAT) | 31,878,340 | |||
Following the modification of the Royal Decree of 29 September 2019, the universe had to be updated. This implies that the figures for 2018 are no longer comparable with the figures from previous years. Indeed, from 2018 onwards, only establishments operating a cinema as their main activity are surveyed. So, for example, cultural centres are no longer included in the statistics. |
Cinema operation in Walloon region
Walloon region | 2021 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 1 cinema | 2-7 cinemas | 8 cinemas and + | |
Cinema businesses | 35 | 13 | 14 | 8 |
Cinemas | 174 | |||
Seats | 36,164 | 3,022 | 9,912 | 23,230 |
Screenings | 127,011 | |||
Spectators | 2,767,243 | |||
Gross revenue (excl. VAT) | 22,095,520 | |||
Following the modification of the Royal Decree of 29 September 2019, the universe had to be updated. This implies that the figures for 2018 are no longer comparable with the figures from previous years. Indeed, from 2018 onwards, only establishments operating a cinema as their main activity are surveyed. So, for example, cultural centres are no longer included in the statistics. |
Doel en korte beschrijving
De statistiek van de uitbating van de bioscoopzalen is een jaarlijkse lijst van het aantal bioscopen dat films vertoont van 35 mm en meer, het aantal zalen, plaatsen en het aantal bezoekers, vertoningen, programma’s per gewest, per provincie en voor België. Er bestaan ook enkele gegevens nopens de bioscopen die videofilms en 16 mm films vertonen.
Populatie
Bioscopen die films vertonen van 35 mm en meer
Frequentie
Jaarlijks.
Timing publicatie
Resultaten beschikbaar 2 jaar na de referentieperiode