'Barbenheimer', rains in Northern Europe spur Kinepolis sales

Kinepolis NV

17/08/2023 13:38

By Olivier Sorgho
       Aug 17 (Reuters) - Belgian cinema operator Kinepolis
 KIPO.BR  said on Thursday July was one of its best months in
terms of sales as blockbuster films "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer",
along with rainy weather in Northern Europe, lured people into
cinemas.
    "Imagine a month that was, let's say, not maybe a record
month, but amongst the highest months in terms of revenue we
ever had," said CEO Eddy Duquenne in an interview, referring to
July. 
    Cinemas have benefited this year from a string of strong
film releases such as "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" as well as
"Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" - dubbed "Barbenheimer" in a 
marketing blitz that had movie halls buzzing.  
    "Here in... Northern Europe, we essentially had in the month
of July good cinema weather, meaning a lot of rain," Duquenne
said.
    While the rains were boosting attendance in countries like
Belgium, Kinepolis' top market, and the Netherlands, media
reported that scorching heat was driving people to attend
air-conditioned cinemas in the United States.
    Duquenne said that in Spain, where Kinepolis owns 10 cinema
complexes, people "often come to the cinemas because we do have
air conditioning".    
    On Thursday, Kinepolis posted record half-year sales, as
attendance at its cinemas grew 22.8% year-on-year to 16.8
million visitors.
    That figure still fell short of pre-pandemic levels,
standing at 74.8% of the attendance in the first half of 2019,
excluding the cinemas Kinepolis took over and inaugurated.
    The ongoing Hollywood strike of writers and actors, which
some experts have warned could hit the box office, will impact
the timing of blockbusters, Duquenne said.

    

 (Reporting by Olivier Sorgho; Editing by Devika Syamnath)
 ((Olivier.Sorgho@thomsonreuters.com;))