Global box office by year, and the markets behind it
Worldwide cinema box office from 2015 to 2025, the forecast for 2026, and full-year 2025 figures for the fifteen largest markets. Every number comes from the MPA, Gower Street Analytics or a national film agency, and where they disagree, both figures are shown.
The headline
- Global box office was about $33.5 billion in 2025, according to Gower Street Analytics' year-end estimate [7] — up on 2024 but still around a fifth below 2019's $42.3 billion [3].
- The latest 2026 forecast is $34.55 billion, revised down from an opening forecast of $35 billion [8] [10].
- Japan had a record year in local currency in 2025, and India's gross was a record while its admissions fell — a reminder that gross and attendance can move in opposite directions.
These are current-dollar figures, so part of any year-on-year change is exchange rates rather than audiences. Gower Street noted that a strong dollar took more than a billion dollars off 2024's international total.
Global box office, 2015–2026
US dollars, current prices. The MPA published a final global total until 2021; since then Gower Street's year-end estimate is the only series, and 2026 is its latest forecast.
Show the data as a table
| Year | Global box office |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $38.3bn |
| 2016 | $38.6bn |
| 2017 | $40.9bn |
| 2018 | $41.8bn |
| 2019 | $42.3bn |
| 2020 | $11.8bn |
| 2021 | $21.3bn |
| 2022 | $25.9bn |
| 2023 | $33.9bn |
| 2024 | $30.0bn |
| 2025 | $33.5bn |
| 2026F | $34.55bn |
Admissions by market, 2025
Tickets sold, not money taken. India sells more tickets than the US and Canada combined at a fraction of the price.
Show the data as a table
| Market | Admissions |
|---|---|
| China | 1,240.0m |
| India | 832.0m |
| US/Canada | 769.0m |
| Mexico | 203.0m |
| Japan | 188.8m |
| France | 156.2m |
| UK | 123.5m |
| Russia | 118.6m |
| Brazil | 112.8m |
| South Korea | 106.1m |
| Germany | 91.9m |
| Italy | 68.4m |
| Spain | 66.6m |
| Australia | 54.2m |
| Saudi Arabia | 18.8m |
Screens by market
Show the data as a table
| Market | Screens |
|---|---|
| China | 93,187 |
| India | 10,033 |
| Mexico | 7,512 |
| France | 6,401 |
| Germany | 4,757 |
| UK | 4,563 |
| Japan | 3,697 |
| Brazil | 3,544 |
| Spain | 3,530 |
| Australia | 2,238 |
| Saudi Arabia | 603 |
The fifteen largest markets, 2025
Full-year 2025, as reported by each market's own authority or the closest reliable reporting of it. US dollar values are shown where a source publishes them; we do not convert currencies ourselves.
| Market | Box office (local) | Box office (USD) | Admissions | Screens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US/Canada | 8.9 USD bn | $8.87bn | 769.0m | — |
| China | 51.8 CNY bn | $7.40bn | 1,240.0m | 93,187 |
| Japan | 274.5 JPY bn | $1.70bn | 188.8m | 3,697 |
| UK | 996.8 GBP m | $1.30bn | 123.5m | 4,563 |
| France | 1,158.1 EUR m | $1.32bn | 156.2m | 6,401 |
| Germany | 924 EUR m | $1.07bn | 91.9m | 4,757 |
| South Korea | 1,047 KRW bn | $0.74bn | 106.1m | — |
| India | 13,395 INR crore | $1.54bn | 832.0m | 10,033 |
| Mexico | 14,983 MXN m | $0.78bn | 203.0m | 7,512 |
| Australia | 970 AUD m | $0.63bn | 54.2m | 2,238 |
| Spain | 458.8 EUR m | — | 66.6m | 3,530 |
| Italy | 496.6 EUR m | — | 68.4m | — |
| Brazil | 2.3 BRL bn | — | 112.8m | 3,544 |
| Russia | 50.7 RUB bn | — | 118.6m | — |
| Saudi Arabia | 921 SAR m | — | 18.8m | 603 |
China screens: the China Film Administration figure is 93,187; Screen Digest gives 79,395. India: Ormax reports 832m admissions; EY-FICCI reports 868m. US/Canada is Gower Street's calendar-year domestic figure; Box Office Mojo's release-year figure is $8.66bn. Blank cells mean no source we could verify published that figure.
Largest markets by box office, 2025
US dollars, where a source publishes a dollar figure.
Show the data as a table
| Value | |
|---|---|
| US/Canada | $8.87bn |
| China | $7.40bn |
| Japan | $1.70bn |
| India | $1.54bn |
| France | $1.32bn |
| UK | $1.30bn |
| Germany | $1.07bn |
| Mexico | $0.78bn |
| South Korea | $0.74bn |
| Australia | $0.63bn |
Share of global box office by region, 2025
Show the data as a table
| North America | Asia Pacific | EMEA | Latin America | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26.5% | 38% | 30% | 8% |
How to read these numbers as an operator
Global box office is a mood indicator, not a planning number. What moves a single cinema's year is its own market's release slate, its local competition and its own share of the audience — which is why the market table above is more useful than the headline.
For the numbers that decide your own P&L — admissions, occupancy, spend per head — see our cinema industry statistics and European cinema statistics.
Sources
Every figure on this page comes from one of these. Where two sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than averaged away.
- Motion Picture Association (MPA), MPAA Theatrical Market Statistics 2015. www.motionpictures.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/MPAA-Theatrical-Market-Statistics-2015_Final.pdf.
- Motion Picture Association (MPA), MPAA Theatrical Market Statistics 2016. www.motionpictures.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/MPAA-Theatrical-Market-Statistics-2016_Final.pdf.
- Motion Picture Association (MPA), MPA 2021 THEME Report (p.38-40, 42). www.motionpictures.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/MPA-2021-THEME-Report-FINAL.pdf.
- Gower Street Analytics, Gower Street Estimates 2022 Global Box Office Hit $25.9 Billion. gower.st/articles/gower-street-estimates-2022-global-box-office-hit-25-9-billion.
- Gower Street Analytics, Gower Street Analytics estimates 2023 Global box office hit $33.9 billion. gower.st/articles/gower-street-analytics-estimates-2023-global-box-office-hit-33-9-billion.
- Gower Street Analytics, Gower Street: Sparkling December Finishes 2024 on High with $3bn Global Box Office Bringing 2024 Total to $30bn. gower.st/articles/sparkling-december-finishes-2024-high-3bn-global-box-office-2024-total-30bn.
- Gower Street Analytics, Gower Street: Highest Grossing December since 2019 adds $3.5bn for $33.6bn Global Total in 2025. gower.st/articles/highest-grossing-december-since-2019-3-5-billion-33-6-billion-global-total-2025.
- Gower Street Analytics, Forecast 2026: Gower Street Announces $35 Billion Early Global Box Office Estimate. gower.st/articles/forecast-2026-gower-street-announces-35-billion-global-box-office-estimate.
- Gower Street Analytics, Gower Street revises 2026 global box office estimate ahead of CinemaCon. gower.st/articles/gower-street-revises-2026-global-box-office-estimate-ahead-cinemacon.
- UNIC, UNIC's 2026 Annual Report Published At CineEurope (23 June 2026). www.unic-cinemas.org/en/resources/news/news-blog/detail/unics-2026-annual-report-published-at-cineeurope.
- Bastille Post (citing China Film Administration), Bastille Post (CCTV/China Film Administration report): China's 2025 box office revenue exceeds 51.8 bln yuan. www.bastillepost.com/global/article/5495470-chinas-2025-box-office-revenue-exceeds-51-8-bln-yuan.
- Eiren / MPPAJ (Japan), Eiren/MPPAJ: 2025年 全国映画概況 (Jan 2026). www.eiren.org/toukei/index.html.
- BFI, BFI official statistics 2025 (5 Feb 2026). www.bfi.org.uk/news/official-bfi-statistics-2025.
- CNC (France), CNC, Bilan 2025 du CNC (full PDF), ch. 6.5 'Le cinéma dans le monde' pp.254-266 and exhibition tables. www.cnc.fr/documents/36995/2559242/Bilan+2025+du+CNC.pdf/1611bc6c-9fe2-6706-2dd7-1febe12a05aa?t=1778586266573.
- FFA (Germany), FFA press release 11 Feb 2026: FFA legt Kinobilanz vor. www.ffa.de/pressemitteilungen-detailseite.html?meldung=ffa-legt-kinobilanz-vor-gutes-kinojahr-2025-dank-deutscher-filme.
- KOFIC (Korea), KOFIC: Korean Box Office Holds the Line as Domestic Films Struggle ... in 2025. www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/news/kofic_news.jsp?blbdComCd=601007&seq=1840&mode=VIEW.
- Ormax Media, The Ormax Box Office Report: 2025. www.ormaxmedia.com/stories/the-ormax-box-office-report-2025.html.
- Canacine (Mexico), Canacine, Resultados de la Industria Cinematográfica 2025, serie 2016-2025 (data: Comscore, consulted 27 Jan 2026). canacine.org.mx/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/RESULTADOS-DE-LA-INDUSTRIA-CINEMATOGRAFICA.SERIE-2016-2025.pptx-1.pdf.
- Portal Exibidor (citing ANCINE), Portal Exibidor: Ancine divulga Anuário do Audiovisual Brasileiro 2025. www.exibidor.com.br/noticias/mercado/15817-ancine-divulga-anuario-do-audiovisual-brasileiro-com-queda-de-publico-e-crescimento-do-parque-exibidor-em-2025.
- Interfax (citing Fond Kino), Interfax (5 Jan 2026), citing Fond Kino / EAIS. www.interfax.ru/russia/1066382.
- Argaam (citing Saudi Film Commission), Argaam: Saudi box office 2025: SAR 921M revenue, 18.8M tickets sold (citing Saudi Film Commission annual report). www.argaam.com/en/article/articledetail/id/1895292.
Frequently asked questions
What was the global box office in 2025?
About $33.55 billion, according to Gower Street Analytics' year-end estimate. Screen Digest/Omdia puts it at about $33.0 billion.
What was the global box office in 2019?
$42.3 billion, according to the Motion Picture Association — the pre-pandemic peak.
What is the forecast for global box office in 2026?
Gower Street's latest published forecast is $34.55 billion, revised down from $35 billion at the start of the year.
Which country has the largest box office?
US/Canada and China are the two largest markets, each worth roughly $7–9 billion in 2025, followed at a distance by Japan, France, the UK, India and Germany.
Is global box office back to pre-pandemic levels?
Not yet. 2025's roughly $33.6 billion is about a fifth below 2019's $42.3 billion in current dollars.
Using these figures
Quote them, chart them, put them in a deck or a board paper. No permission needed and no attribution required, though a link back to this page is appreciated and lets a reader check the working.
If a figure here looks wrong to you, it might be: sources in this industry revise, and some of them disagree with each other by more than you would expect. Tell us what you are seeing and we will correct the page and say that we did.
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