UNITED STATES & CANADA (Pop: million & 35.1 million)

Transcription

1 UNITED STATES & CANADA (Pop: million & 35.1 million) (1) US & CANADA: THEATRICAL RELEASES OF GERMAN FILMS, Screens 39,547 39,580 39,662 40,024 39,957 40,174 40,392 Theatrical admissions (billions) Per capita attendance Box office (EUR billions*) Average ticket price (EUR*) Releases Domestic releases European releases** German releases Domestic market share 93.3% 91.8% 91.8% 94.7% 96.2% 88.8% 93.6% German market share 0.01% 0.05% 0.11% 0.03% 0.07% 0.05% 0.07% *EUR equivalents are calculated throughout at the exchange rate for December 31 of the year in question. **Excluding German majority films 1

2 US: Theatrical market shares Percentage of annual box office Domestic German US & Canada: Theatrical Releases Total Domestic 200 European German 2

3 (2) US & CANADA: THEATRICAL RELEASES OF GERMAN FILMS, TITLE DISTRIBUTOR RELEASE DATE BOX OFFICE US$ 2010 German films (100% or majority co-productions) THE LAST STATION (Ger/Rus/UK) Sony Pictures Classics ,617,867 NORDWAND (Ger/Aut/Swz) Music Box Films ,421 VISION - AUS DEM LEBEN DER HILDEGARD VON BINGEN (Ger/Fr) Zeitgeist Films ,274 SOUL KITCHEN (Ger/Fr/It) IFC Films ,901 ALLE ANDEREN (Ger) Cinema Guild ,042 JOHN RABE (Ger/Cn/Fr/It/Sp) Strand Releasing ,519 HARLAN - IM SCHATTEN VON JUD SÜSS (Ger) Zeitgeist Films ,305 DER ROTE BARON (Ger) Monterey Media ,189 ALTIPLANO (Ger/Bel/NL) First Run Features , German minority co-productions THE GHOST (Fr/Ger/UK) Summit Entertainment ,541,549 MÄN SOM HATAR KVINNOR (Swe/Ger/Nor) Music Box Films ,095,170 FLICKAN SOM LEKTE MED ELDEN (Swe/Fr/Ger) Music Box Films ,638,241 LUFTSLOTTET SOM SPRÄNGDES (Swe/Den/Ger) Music Box Films ,190,196 AJAMI (Isr/Ger/UK) Kino International ,403 LEBANON (Isr/Fr/Ger) Sony Pictures Classics ,088 ENTER THE VOID (Fr/Ger/It) IFC Films ,467 CARLOS (Fr/Ger) IFC Films ,526 LE PÈRE DE MES ENFANTS (Fr/Ger) IFC Films ,022 CONTRACORRIENTE (Peru/Col/Fr/Ger) The Film Collaborative ,620 HERE & THERE (Ser/US/Ger) Cinema Purgatorio ,156 EYES WIDE OPEN (Isr/Fr/Ger) New American Vision ,258 3

4 DOUBLE TAKE (Bel/Fr/Ger) Kino International ,218 HADEWIJCH (Fr/Ger) IFC Films , German films (100% or majority co-productions) THE THREE MUSKETEERS (Ger/Fr/UK/US) Summit Entertainment ,374,484 A DANGEROUS METHOD (Ger/Can/UK/Swz) Sony Pictures Classics ,704,709 PINA (Ger/Fr) IFC Films ,524,826 THE FUTURE (Ger/US) Roadside Attractions ,662 EL BULLI COOKING IN PROGRESS (Ger) Kino Lorber ,181 LIFE, ABOVE ALL (Ger/SA) Sony Pictures Classics ,461 DREI (Ger) Strand Releasing ,954 WÜSTENBLUME (Ger/Aut) National Geographic Entertainment ,348 DER FALL CHODORKOWSKI (Ger) Kino Lorber ,522 JANE S JOURNEY (Ger) First Run Features ,253 CHARLOTTE RAMPLING THE LOOK (Ger/Fr) Kino Lorber ,988 DIE FREMDE (Ger) Olive Films ,631 DIE FRAU MIT DEN 5 ELEFANTEN (Ger/Swz) The Cinema Guild , German minority co-productions UNKNOWN (US/Ger/UK/Fr) Warner Bros. Pictures ,686,397 HANNA (US/UK/Ger) Focus Features ,259,119 TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY (UK/Fr/Ger) Focus Features ,149,393 CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS (US/Fr/Ger/Can) IFC Films ,247,347 ANONYMOUS (UK/Ger) Sony Pictures Releasing ,463,292 MELANCHOLIA (Den/Swe/Fr/Ger) Magnet Releasing ,030,848 CARNAGE (Fr/Ger/Pol) Sony Pictures Classics ,547,047 THE WHISTLEBLOWER (US/Can/Ger) Gold Circle Films O ,124,966 LE HAVRE (Fin/Fr/Ger) Janus Films ,709 4

5 TURTLE: THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY (UK/Ger/Aut) Hannover House ,946 LA PRINCESSE DE MONTPENSIER (Fr/Ger) IFC Films ,428 INTO THE ABYSS (US/UK/Ger) IFC Films ,880 UNCLE BOONMEE WHO CAN RECALL HIS PAST LIVES (Thai/Ger/Fr/Sp/UK) Strand Releasing ,292 LE QUATTRO VOLTE (It/Ger/Swz) Lorber Films ,530 DIE RÄUBER (Aut/Ger) Kino International ,451 THE HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER (Isr/Ger/Fr) Film Movement ,014 PIANOMANIA (Aut/Ger) First Run Features ,852 AUTOBIOGRAFIA LUI NICOLAE CEAUSESCU (Rom/Ger) The Film Desk ,023 AURORA (Rom/Fr/Swz/Ger) The Cinema Guild ,677 CHALET GIRL (UK/Ger/Aut) IFC Films , German films (100% or majority co-productions) RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION (Ger/Can) Screen Gems ,345,531 CLOUD ATLAS (Ger/US) Warner Bros. Pictures ,108,272 GERHARD RICHTER PAINTING (Ger) Kino Lorber ,646 DREI STERNE: DIE KÖCHE UND DIE STERNE (Ger) First Run Features ,942 SNOWMAN S LAND (Ger) Music Box Films ,190 DEATH OF A SUPERHERO (Ger/Ire) Tribeca Film German minority co-productions THE VOW (US/Brz/Fr/Aus/UK/Ger) Screen Gems ,014,030 AMOUR (Fr/Ger/Aut) Sony Pictures Classics ,649,591 EN KONGELIG AFFÆRE (Den/Cz/Swe/Ger) Magnolia Pictures ,494,593 HODEJEGERNE (Nor/Den/Ger) Magnolia Pictures ,200,010 IN DARKNESS (Pol/Ger/Can) Sony Pictures Classics ,041,455 HOLY MOTORS (Fr/Ger) Indomina Media ,100 2 DAYS IN NEW YORK (Fr/Ger/Bel) Magnolia Pictures ,210 5

6 POULET AUX PRUNES (Fr/Ger/Bel) Sony Pictures Classics ,874 THE HOUSE I LIVE IN (NL/UK/Ger/Jap/Aus/US) Abramorama ,752 ELLES (Fr/Pol/Ger) Kino Lorber ,508 SIMON OCH EKARNA (Swe/Den/Ger/Nor/NL) The Film Arcade ,664 THE LONELIEST PLANET (US/Ger) IFC Films ,579 IRON SKY (Fin/Ger/Aus) Entertainment One ,082 UN AMOUR DE JEUNESSE (Fr/Ger) IFC Films ,000 A TORINÓI LÓ (Hun/Fr/Ger/Swz) The Cinema Guild ,298 WHORE S GLORY (Aut/Ger) Kino Lorber ,420 HITLER S CHILDREN (US/Ger/Isr) Film Movement ,083 POST MORTEM (Chile/Ger/Mex) Kino Lorber ,750 CIRKUS COLUMBIA (Bos/Fr/Ger/UK/Slvn/Bel) Strand Releasing , German films (100% or majority co-productions) LORE (Ger/Aus/UK) Music Box Films ,325 HANNAH ARENDT (Ger/Lux/Fr/Isr) Zeitgeist Films ,205 HAPPY PEOPLE: A YEAR IN THE TAIGA (Ger) Music Box Films ,987 DAS LETZTE SCHWEIGEN (Ger) Music Box Films ,214 RUSSIAN ARK (re, Ger/Rus) Kino Lorber ,984 M. (re, Ger) Kino Lorber ,566 TRIUMPH DES WILLENS (re, Ger) First Run Pictures ,476 V TUMANE (Ger/Lat/NL/Belarus) Strand Releasing , German minority co-productions HANSEL AND GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS (US/Ger) Paramount Pictures ,703,475 THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS: CITY OF BONES (US/Ger/Can) Screen Gems ,165,421 RUSH (US/UK/Ger) Universal Pictures ,947,624 THE BOOK THIEF (US/Ger) 20th Century Fox ,488,481 6

7 THE GATEKEEPERS (Isr/Fr/Ger/Bel) Sony Pictures Classics ,415,727 SONG FOR MARION (UK/Ger) The Weinstein Company ,702,668 DEN SKALDEDE FRISØR (Den/Swe/It/Fr/Ger) Sony Pictures Classics ,631,709 KON-TIKI (Nor/UK/Den/Ger) The Weinstein Company ,517,410 WADJDA (Saudi/Ger) Sony Pictures Classics ,347,747 NO PLACE ON EARTH (UK/Ger) Magnolia Pictures ,238 MORE THAN HONEY (Swz/Ger/Aut) Kino Lorber ,324 FAUST (Rus/Ger) Leisure Time ,860 POST TENEBRAS LUX (Mex/Fr/NL/Ger) Strand Releasing ,185 BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO (UK/Ger) IFC Films ,493 LES SALAUDS (Fr/Ger) IFC Films ,525 PARADIES: LIEBE (Aut/Ger/Fr) Strand Releasing ,267 IL FUTURO (Chile/Ger/It/Sp) Strand Releasing ,001 TROUBLE EVERY DAY (re, Fr/Ger) The Film Desk ,189 PARADIES: HOFFNUNG (Aut/Ger/Fr) Strand Releasing ,701 PARADIES: GLAUBE (Aut/Ger/Fr) Strand Releasing ,508 MR. NOBODY (Ger/Bel/Can) Magnolia Pictures , German films (100% or majority co-productions) CITIZENFOUR (Ger/US) Radius-TWC ,092,915 HECTOR AND THE SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS (Ger/Can) Relativity Media ,124,445 THE GREEN PRINCE (Ger/Isr/UK) Music Box Films ,832 OH BOY (Ger) Music Box Films ,275 UNSERE MÜTTER, UNSERE VÄTER (Ger) Music Box Films ,595 LIEBE UND ANDERE TURBULENZEN (Ger) Monterey Media ,401 FEUCHTGEBIETE (Ger) Strand Releasing ,478 DAS MERKWÜRDIGE KÄTZCHEN (Ger) KimStim Films ,885 TORE TANZT (Ger) Drafthouse Films ,870 ZWEI LEBEN (Ger/Nor) IFC Films ,437 7

8 DER TURM (Ger) Music Box Films ,117 LAGERFEUER (Ger) Main Street Films n/a 2014 German minority co-productions THE MONUMENTS MEN (US/Ger) Sony Pictures Classics ,031,620 THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL (US/Ger) Fox Searchlight Pictures ,100,318 POMPEII (Can/Ger) TriStar Pictures ,219,647 A MOST WANTED MAN (UK/US/Ger) Roadside Attractions ,237,415 THE LUNCHBOX (Ind/Fr/Ger) Sony Pictures Classics ,235,151 ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE (UK/Ger/Fr/Cyp) Sony Pictures Classics ,879,534 THIRD PERSON (US/UK/Ger/Bel) Sony Pictures Classics ,021,398 NYMPHOMANIAC: VOLUME 1 (Den/Ger/Fr/Swe/Bel) Magnolia Pictures ,896 WAKOLDA (Arg/Sp/Ger/Fr) Samuel Goldwyn Films ,392 NYMPHOMANIAC: VOLUME 2 (Den/Ger/Fr/Swe/Bel) Magnolia Pictures ,167 THE GALAPAGOS AFFAIR: SATAN CAME TO EDEN (US/Ecu/Ger/Nor) Zeitgeist Films ,159 DIPLOMATIE (Fr/Ger) Zeitgeist Films ,880 BETHLEHEM (Isr/Bel/Ger) Adopt Films ,700 THE CONGRESS (Isr/Ger/Pol/Fr/Bel) Drafthouse Films ,950 A NAGY FÜZET (Hun/Ger/Aut/Fr) Sony Pictures Classics ,559 LA JALOUSIE (Fr/Ger) The Cinema Guild ,946 TEENAGE (US/Ger) Oscilloscope Pictures ,169 DER ANSTÄNDIGE (Aut/Ger/Isr) Kino Lorber ,327 RUN & JUMP (Ire/Ger) Sundance Selects ,061 A LONG WAY DOWN (UK/Ger) Magnolia Pictures ,347 PIONIER (Nor/Ger/Swe/Fr/Fin) Magnolia Pictures ,871 MICHAEL KOHLHAAS (Fr/Ger) Music Box Films ,313 HET MEISJE EN DE DOOD (NL/Ger/Rus) Shadow Distribution ,343 KIS UYKUSU (Tur/Ger/Fr) Adopt Films n/a A FAREWELL TO FOOLS (Rom/Ger/Bel) Monterey Media n/a 8

9 LAST HIJACK (NL/Ger/Ire/Bel) Submarine Entertainment n/a SNABBA CASH 2 (Swe/Den/Ger) Cinedigm n/a 2015 German films (100% or majority productions) PHOENIX (Ger) Sundance Selects ,184,472 CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA (Ger/Fr/Swz) IFC Films ,851,517 IM LABYRINTH DES SCHWEIGENS (Ger) Sony Pictures Classics ,452 DIE GELIEBTEN SCHWESTERN (Ger/Aut/Swz) Music Box Films ,764 NOWITZKI. DER PERFEKTE WURF (Ger) Magnolia Films ,340 LOVE, ROSIE (Ger/UK) The Film Arcade ,431 DER TEUFELSGEIGER (Ger/Aut) Free ,294 EVERY THING WILL BE FINE (Ger/Can/Swe/Nor) IFC Films ,034 FAREWELL, HERR SCHWARTZ (Ger/Isr) Kino Lorber ,445 KREUZWEG (Ger) FM ,505 VERBOTENE FILME (Ger) Zeitgeist Films n/a VICTORIA (Ger) Adopt Films n/a 2015 German minority co-productions BRIDGE OF SPIES (US/Ger/Ind) Buena Vista ,313,754 POINT BREAK (US/Ger) Warner Bros. Pictures ,782,481 HITMAN: AGENT 47 (US/Ger) 20th Century Fox ,467,450 GETT: THE TRIAL OF VIVIANE AMSALEM (Isr/Fr/Ger) Music Box Films ,150 MAPS TO THE STARS (Can/US/Fr/Ger) Focus World ,741 FEHÉR ISTEN (Hun/Ger/Swe) Magnolia Pictures ,358 DANCING ARABS (Isr/Fr/Ger) Strand Releasing ,540 EN DUVA SATT PÅ EN GREN OCH FUNDERADE PÅ TILLVARON (Swe/Fr/Nor/Ger) Magnolia Pictures ,989 MITA TOVA - THE FAREWELL PARTY (Isr/Ger) Samuel Goldwyn Films ,860 MUSTANG (Fr/Tur/Ger) Cohen Media ,034 9

10 3 COEURS (Fr/Ger/Bel) Cohen Media ,965 SHE S FUNNY THAT WAY (US/Ger) Lionsgate Premiere ,996 LE MERAVIGLIE (It/Ger) Oscilloscope ,805 JAUJA (Arg/Fr/Mex/Ger/NL) The Cinema Guild ,231 THE YES MEN ARE REVOLTING (US/NL/Den/Fr/Ger) The Orchard ,190 CENSORED VOICES (Isr/Ger) Music Box Films ,231 BIG GAME (Fin/Ger/UK) EuropaCorp/Relativity Media ,752 PRAIA DO FUTURO (Brz/Ger) Strand Releasing ,262 HROSS Í OSS (Ice/Ger) Music Box Films , GRAM (Nor/Fr/Ger) Kino Lorber ,983 MEET ME IN MONTENEGRO (US/Ger/Nor) The Orchard ,612 MEDITERRANEA (It/Fr/US/Ger/Qat) IFC ,846 LA CONFESSION D UN ENFANT DU SIÈCLE (Fr/Ger/UK) Cohen Media I AM HERE (Den/Ger) Brainstorm Media n/a LIFE (Can/Ger/Aus/US) Cinedigm n/a THE VOICES (US/Ger) Lionsgate n/a 2016 German films (100% or majority productions) TONI ERDMANN (Ger/Aut/Rom) Sony Pictures Classics ,479,387 EAT THAT QUESTION: FRANK ZAPPA IN HIS OWN WORDS (Ger/Fr) Sony Pictures Classics ,352 FRANCOFONIA (Ger/Fr/NL) Music Box Films ,040 DER STAAT GEGEN FRITZ BAUER (Ger) Cohen Media ,483 MORRIS AUS AMERIKA (Ger/US) A ,151 KAMIKAZE 1989 (re, BRD) Film Movement ,357 COLONIA DIGNIDAD: ES GIBT KEIN ZURÜCK (Ger/Fr/Lux) Screen Media ,709 WE ARE TWISTED F***ING SISTER (Ger/US) Music Box Films ,227 DER MÜDE TOD (re, Ger) Kino Lorber ,734 ABOVE AND BELOW (Ger/Swz) Oscilloscope ,369 10

11 2016 German minority co-productions SNOWDEN (US/Fr/Ger) Open Road ,587,519 RACE (Fr/Ger/Can) Focus Features ,115,191 EDDIE THE EAGLE (UK/US/Ger) 20th Century Fox ,789,389 THE DANISH GIRL (UK/Bel/Ger/Den/US) Focus Features ,353,713 A HOLOGRAM FOR THE KING (US/Ger) Roadside Attractions ,212,494 ELLE (Fr/Ger) Sony Pictures Classics ,341,534 REMEMBER (Can/Ger) A ,555 L AVENIR (Fr/Ger) IFC Films ,294 EVA HESSE (US/Ger) Zeitgeist Films ,901 AN (Jap/Fr/Ger) Kino Lorber ,414 V LUCHAKH SOLNA (Rus/Ger/Cz/North Kor) Icarus Films ,036 V PAPRSCICH SLUNCE (Cz/Rus/Ger/Lat/N Kor) Icarus Films ,596 UN TANGO MÁS (Arg/Ger) Strand Releasing ,086 LES SAISONS (Fr/Ger) Music Box Films ,514 CEMETERY OF SPLENDOR (Thai/Fr/Ger/UK) Strand Releasing ,950 MÆND OG HØNS (Den/Ger) Drafthouse Films ,207 THE PRESIDENT (Geo/Fr/UK/Ger) Corinth Films ,578 VERGINE GIURATA (It/Swz/Ger/Alb/Kos) Strand Releasing ,636 AU NOM DE MA FILLE (Fr/Ger) Distrib Films ,623 HANNAH: BUDDHISM S UNTOLD JOURNEY (UK/Nep/Den/Ger) Kino Lorber BEYOND VALKYRIE: DAWN OF THE FOURTH REICH (US/Ger) Independent n/a 11

12 (3) US & CANADA: TOP 10 GERMAN FILMS (THEATRICAL), ADMISSIONS BOX OFFICE (EUR) RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION (2012) 5,293,191 32,097,912 CLOUD ATLAS (2012) 3,388,534 20,548,070 THE THREE MUSKETEERS (2011) 2,546,811 15,729,101 THE LAST STATION (2010) 838,490 4,938,707 A DANGEROUS METHOD (2011) 713,089 4,404,035 PINA (2011) 440,603 2,721,166 PHOENIX (2015) 377,755 2,929,714 CITIZENFOUR (2014) 341,500 2,313,048 CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA (2015) 219,634 1,703,396 TONI ERDMANN (2016) 170,988 1,408,940 12

13 (4) US & CANADA: DISTRIBUTORS OF GERMAN FILMS TOTAL Music Box Films Kino Lorber Sony Pictures Classics IFC Films First Run Features Strand Releasing Zeitgeist Films The Cinema Guild Monterey Media A Adopt Films Cohen Media Drafthouse Films The Film Arcade Film Movement FM Free KimStim Films Magnolia Films Main Street Films

14 National Geographic Entertainment Olive Films Oscilloscope Radius TWC Relativity Media Roadside Attractions Screen Gems Screen Media Summit Entertainment Sundance Selects Tribeca Films Warner Bros. Pictures

15 (5) US & CANADA: THEATRICAL MARKET COMMENTARY North America the United States and Canada, which are reported together as a single box-office territory is the world s largest international movie market (in the sense that India and China are not or not yet in the case of China net importers of films). No other market has so many screens, such a sophisticated distribution system and such an impressive number of regular moviegoers to draw on. In statistical terms, that translates as 40,292 screens a total remaining pretty stable over the seven years surveyed here, having only increased by 2% over that time, and serving a combined population of million: that works out as one screen for every 8,824 inhabitants. Put that together with a traditionally high per capita attendance rate 3.8 in 2016 and you have a rich mix, with $100-million openings for blockbusters more or less the norm and an average yield per movie of just over half a million dollars. There is, however, a major catch: the North American market is, in terms of breadth of taste, the world s largest village, consuming homeproduced movies out of all proportion to the rest of the world. This can be seen in both box office totals local films accounted for 93.6% of all ticket sales in 2016 and an average of 92.9% over the period surveyed. There is a similar, if less dramatic, bias in the availability of nondomestic titles: 57% of all films released in 2016 were domestic. But the conclusions are inevitable: North American audiences prefer North American films. There is one further element to be taken into account: the North American market s traditional function as a kind of nirvana for European films. Much as breaking the US is a goal for many actors and singers, so getting a film released in North America acts as a kind of validation of a film s appeal, usually (although not always) in commercial terms. There is financial logic to this: divided between the 286 non-domestic films released, the 6.4% of the North American box office in 2016 amounted to an approximate EUR 445,000 per film. Thus the size of the market still makes it highly attractive, even given its parochialism. This is because filmed entertainment, an industry which often needs to be nurtured in other countries, is a major business in North America, with a combined annual value of EUR 25.6 billion (EUR 10.1 billion from theatrical, EUR 9.5 billion from physical video and EUR 5.9 billion from digital video and VOD). As such, it is regularly analysed in the financial press, with trends reported worldwide. For a summary of such trends, the annual report of the Motion Picture Association of America is a key resource. Admissions may vary between a low of 3.7 billion in 2014 and a high of 4.1 billion in 2012 but box-office revenue continues to rise, passing the EUR 10 billion ($11.4 billion) mark in 2016 thanks to ever-increasing ticket prices boosted for a while (but no longer) by 3D premium pricing. If this trend is not fully reflected by the ticket prices and other figures in Section (1), blame fluctuations in the $/EUR exchange rate. 15

16 However, the only foreign-language films to make any real impact on the North American box-office charts are those appealing to clear demographic groups: the Hispanic audiences who enabled NO SE ACEPTAN DEVOLUCIONES to notch up $44.5 million in 2013, UN GALLO CON MUCHOS HUEVOS $9 million in 2015 and to a lesser extent Bollywood blockbuster P.K., which earned $10.6 million in By contrast, the highest-earning German-language film of the seven years surveyed was PHOENIX with $3.2 (EUR 2.9) million in The 2016 release of TONI ERDMANN also resulted in an impressive EUR 1.4 million. Inevitably, the Top 10 German films chart in Section (3) is dominated, as it is in most other territories, by films made in the English language or liable to have been released in an English version, thus avoiding the curse of subtitles, to which North American audiences remain stubbornly resistant. PHOENIX is one of only two original-language German titles to take more than $1 million at the box office between ; the other, CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA, is in a combination of English and French. Mention should also be made of IM LABYRINTH DES SCHWEIGENS, which took just under $800,000 at the box office in But, as the charts in Section 1 make clear, German films are a tiny drop in the vast bucket of the North American market. Children s films, meanwhile, while often a mainstay in other territories, were not noticeably strong in the US in , almost certainly because the major studios, Disney to the fore, dominate this sector of the North American market with saturation advertising. When it comes to summing up the North American market, the lessons remain the same as they have in every year we have prepared this report: Medium-budget English-language commercial films like THE THREE MUSKETEERS can reach as good an audience in the US as they can anywhere else (although a US return of EUR 15.7 million on that film is probably at the low end of expectations). Arthouse films can reach a substantial number of arthouse filmgoers in the major US cities thanks to distributors like Kino Lorber, Music Box Films, First Run Features, Strand Releasing, Sony Pictures Classics and dynamic newcomer A24, although figures are liable to be in the low hundred thousands of dollars and release is likely to be restricted to a single screen in half-a-dozen cities. More mainstream foreign films are increasingly likely to be acquired for an English-language remake rather than get a US release on the scale that a similar indigenous film would receive; and their directors will often be offered English-language films. 16

17 (6) US & CANADA: GERMAN FILMS ON TELEVISION OVERVIEW Writing this 20 years ago, it would have been normal to say that there were two models for the global television economy: the European combination of public and private channels; and the North American one with its proliferation of local and special-interest channels backed by four national networks. Now there is just one: the North American model, which sets the pattern for the world. The only variation is in the extent of regulation. For the purposes of this report, the briefest of sketches will suffice. US television is dominated by four national networks (ABC, NBC, the CW formerly CBS and relative newcomer Fox; three powerful news channels (MSNBC, CNN and Fox); three dominant premium channels (HBO, Starz and Showtime); and a plethora of sports, lifestyle, religious, music and general entertainment channels dividing up very roughly as per the chart below, which is based on the 180-plus channels available to subscribers to the DirecTV platform. North America: Cable Channels by Content Sports Children Entertainment Movies International Local Given the size of the US market, it is inevitable that a great number of specialist interests are catered for. Deutsche Welle, backed by the German Federal government, is fairly widely available in North America, as it is many countries. And there is also a German movie channel, German Kino Plus, available on the Dish! platform. The former can scarcely be described as entertainment television, however, and the Dish! 17

18 movie channel is aimed primarily at America s German diaspora (which is roughly 50-million strong), rather than at building new audiences for or broadening US audiences knowledge of German cinema. Such features as are available on PBS (the Public Broadcasting Service) are almost always documentaries, while the Sundance Channel, despite its name, rarely strays far outside the US mainstream. We took Showtime s Movie Channel as typical of the remaining US fixed-timeslot options. Although billed as providing movies for movie lovers, it programmes mainstream films throughout the day, with soft-core porn in the wee hours and a smattering of foreign titles, though none in the original language. It is hardly worth including a chart of breakdown by country or origin, since 86% of the movies programmed on the channel are American. The others are from the UK (19); France (three); Australia, Hong Kong and Japan (two each); and Bosnia, Canada, Italy and South Africa (one apiece). The only non-english-language film is the Bosnian title NO MAN S LAND, one of whose themes is linguistic misunderstanding. For details of on-line DVD and VOD platforms available in the US, see separate survey, Home Entertainment Market. 18

19 (7) US & CANADA IN OVERVIEW: The following charts depict a comparative overview of the situation for German films released in the USA & Canada between the years Year Majority German releases All German releases Majority German films box office (US$) All German films box office (US$) All releases All box office (mlllion US$) % releases share, majority German films % releases share, all German films % box office share, majority German films % box office share, all German films ,41 4,81 0,26 5, ,37 8,99 0,62 0, ,92 9,38 0,28 5, ,37 6,32 0,23 2, ,00 5,81 0,60 4, ,11 6,95 0,48 2, ,96 6,74 0,03 1, ,85 6,18 0,15 2, ,88 3,70 0,01 2, ,97 5,91 0,10 2, ,41 3,60 0,08 0, ,13 5,42 0,05 1, ,90 3,60 0,11 0, ,16 4,22 0,03 0, ,70 5,37 0,07 0, ,60 4,93 0,05 3, ,03 5,57 0,01 0,71 Average ,10 5,74 0,19 2,16 Total n/a n/a n/a n/a 19

20 US & Canada: German films released : an overview German 100% and majority films German minority co-productions All releases German films released in the US & Canada, : a comparison German 100% and majority films German minority co-productions 20

21 6,00 German films' box office in the US & Canada as a percentage of the total: ,00 2, German 100% and majority films box office share % German minority co-productions box office share % 10,00 8,00 6,00 4,00 2,00 - Number of German films released in the US & Canada as a percentage of the total: German 100% and majority films releases share % German minority co-productions releases share % 21

22 (8) US & CANADA: SOURCES AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS CIA World Factbook, XE Currency Converter, European Audiovisual Observatory, Motion Picture Association of America, Rentrak, Box Office Mojo, Deadline Hollywood, Digital Entertainment Group, Showtime The Movie Channel, GfK USA. 22