Cinema attendance shows signs of recovery in Argentina

After the World Cup and winter holidays, Argentine cinemas experienced a notable resurgence, selling 3.63 million tickets during the recent school break. This figure represents a 39% jump from the previous year, though it closely matches attendance levels from two years prior.

The recovery in Argentina aligns with global patterns observed in other markets like the U.S., Brazil, Mexico, Spain, Chile, and Uruguay. These markets also saw attendance peak in 2023, followed by declines in 2024 and 2025, with a recent uptick in 2026. This suggests a shared dynamic influencing cinema-going habits worldwide.

Paradoxically, this attendance boost occurs even as ticket prices have significantly appreciated. The average ticket price, estimated by Incaa, is now around US$7, with prices in the metropolitan area ranging from US$11 to US$12. This contrasts with historical prices around US$4.

Furthermore, a handful of major films are dominating the box office. Just five movies account for 94.5% of total revenue, including titles like "Spider-Man: A New Day," "Toy Story 5," and "Moana." Argentine films, meanwhile, captured a mere 0.31% of the market share, with the documentary "El Partido" about the 1986 Argentina-England match drawing just over 3,500 viewers.

Adding context to the market's scale, less than one cinema ticket is sold per inhabitant annually in Argentina. Last year, this average was 0.71 tickets per person, significantly lower than the U.S. average of around 2.2 tickets per decade.