The Resilience of Cinema in France: A Story of Passion and Revival

The Pandemic’s Shadow and the Rebirth of French Cinemas

In 2022, Ronald Chammah, owner of two small cinemas on Paris’s Left Bank, feared that the pandemic might have irreparably dimmed France’s centuries-old love affair with cinema. France, after all, is the birthplace of this global passion, dating back 130 years. But by late 2023, Chammah found himself marveling at the resurgence of moviegoers. On a Sunday in November, his theaters sold out screenings of obscure Armenian art-house films, a niche appeal that drew hardcore cinephiles in droves. “Full, all day long—sold out, sold out, sold out,” he recounted, still in awe. The pandemic had tested the limits of France’s cinematic culture, but it seemed the love for “les salles obscures” (the dark rooms of movie theaters) endured.

Global Challenges and France’s Unique Triumph

While the global movie industry faced setbacks in 2024, including Hollywood strikes, France emerged as a beacon of hope. At the 2024 Oscars, Sean Baker, director of Anora, mourned the loss of hundreds of American movie screens during the pandemic, warning of a cultural erosion if the trend continued. Yet in France, the mood was celebratory. Comscore reported that French movie theater attendance rose to over 181 million in 2023, a nearly one-million increase over the previous year—one of the few countries to see such growth. For the French, cinema is not just entertainment; it is a cultural and moral obligation, as the Institut Lumière emphasized, calling it a triumph over both the pandemic and the “invasive digital civilization” of home streaming.

The French Philosophy of Cinema as a Cultural █████

The French reverence for cinema is deeply tied to a national philosophy of cultural preservation. The government’s “cultural exception” model prioritizes the arts, with policies designed to protect and promote French cinema. The National Center for Film and Moving Images (CNC) attributed the industry’s recovery to this model, which includes subsidized school trips to the movies for millions of children and financial support for small cinemas in rural towns. Olivier Henrard, former interim president of the CNC, framed cinema as a cornerstone of citizenship, echoing ancient Greek traditions of communal storytelling. In France, going to the movies is not just a personal choice but a social contract.

A Mystical Connection to the Big Screen

France’s relationship with cinema is unique, even among film-loving nations. Analyst David Hancock described it as “almost mystical,” a sentiment reflected in the way Parisians flock to art-house retrospectives, philosopher-led discussions, and experimental film screenings. Iconic theaters like mk2 and Le Champo continue to thrive, while new projects, such as Pathé Palace, a seven-screen theater in a historic Grands Boulevards building, emerge as temples of cinematic dreams. Architect Renzo Piano’s renovation of the palace was hailed as “a reasonable folly” by Pathé chairman Jérôme Seydoux, capturing the nation’s sentimental devotion to cinema.

Challenges and Renewal in the Post-Pandemic Era

Despite the positive trends, French cinema is not without its challenges. Attendance remains nearly 13% below pre-pandemic levels, and some cherished movie houses have closed. Yet, there is hope. Renovations of landmarks like La Pagode, a whimsical faux-Japanese theater in the Seventh Arrondissement, signal a renewed commitment to cinema’s future. Axel Huyghe, an expert on French movie houses, sees these efforts as part of an industry in renewal. The French, after all, have a way of blending tradition with innovation, ensuring that their cinematic heritage endures.

Cinema as a Way of Life in Paris

For Parisians, cinema is not just a pastime—it is woven into the fabric of daily life. Small apartments and a preference for communal experiences over home theaters contribute to this, but it is the cultural identity of cinema that truly sustains it. As Yohann Lucian, a bistro worker near La Pagode, put it, “For Parisians, it’s a way of life. They like to go to the movies.” The pandemic may have interrupted this tradition, but it could not extinguish it. In France, cinema remains a sacred space—a place where stories, culture, and community converge. As the lights dim and the projector hums, the French find themselves reconnected to the world and to each other.