Romanians are among the least frequent moviegoers in Europe. "At a time when we need to defend our democracy, culture is not being encouraged." / What other countries are doing

Sunday, Oct 12, 2025

Cinema consumption is declining due to streaming and cost; France uses subscriptions to boost attendance.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

Cultural consumption has declined since the pandemic as people have less time and money for cinema; Romania is among the last EU countries to show high attendance, with only 14.5% of those over 16 attending a film in the last year. Multiple factors contribute to this decline, including the pandemic and the rise of diverse streaming platforms, which offer convenience and exclusive content. While some argue that no streaming service can replace the cinema experience, critics point out a lack of support from authorities to encourage cultural consumption. Experts suggest early education is key to fostering critical viewing habits. The Romanian film “Teambuilding” is cited as a turning point for local film appeal. Ticket prices are also noted as a barrier; while some cinemas offer discounts, others have higher costs compared to international averages. France serves as an example of successful strategies, implementing various audience-specific pricing and subscription models to boost cinema attendance.


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