2007 was a successful year for the main Finnish cinema chain Finnkino which increased its cinema ticket sales by 14%.
The summer period was particularly strong for cinema-going, in particular July which broke all records with US blockbusters like The Simpsons Movie (258,071 admissions), Pirates of the Caribbean: At the World's End (232,899) and Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix (214,667). The biggest local hit was Christmas Story released in December.
In terms of growth, the most significant increases were seen in the company's new venues Plaza in Oulu, opened in 2006, and Kuvapalatsi in Lahti, inaugurated the second half of 2007. The next theatre to open will be Finnkino's entertainment centre in Flamingo, Vantaa.
Several factors contributed to the company's business growth: the success during the Christmas holidays of the ‘Christmas present' (four movie tickets in one package) which sold over 100,000 units, plus snack sales and corporate tickets sales. Online ticketing is also increasing in popularity. In 2008, 11 Finnish films will premiere, plus new US franchises such as the new Indiana Jones, James Bond and Harry Potter.
Finnikino is part of Rautakirja, a division of the SanomaWSOY Group, one of the leading media companies in the Nordic region.