In a dynamic market where attendance climbed by 2% and investments in cinemas are sustained, Danish films had a healthy 26% market share.

Despite increased competition from traditional TV, streaming services and other leisure activities, cinema-going remains a favourite activity for the Danes. In 2019 13.2 million Danes went to the cinemas, up 2% from 2018.

For Mads Nedergaard, chairman of the distributors’ association FAFID, the growing attendance “must not least be seen in the light of the fact that cinemas are being built and modernised throughout the country like never before.” According to him, two new cinemas in Ringsted and Nordhavn opened just in December, and another seven cities saw cinema refurbishments, while Nordisk Film Cinemas built a brand new hall in Esbjerg on the West coast of Jutland, and modernised venues in three other areas.

Meanwhile local films reached 3.5 million admissions, accounting for a 26% market share, according to provisory figures from FAFID and the Danish Film Institute. This is down 4% from 2018, and lower than the 29% benchmark set by the Danish government for its 2019-2023 Film Agreement, but a better result than the 13.2% market share for local films in Sweden, 16.8% in Finland and 18.4% in Norway.

After The Purity of Vengeance in 2018, Checkered Ninja was another Danish film that sailed to the top of the Danish charts (621,000 admissions) in 2019, outnumbering all Hollywood tentpoles such as Avengers: Endgame (574,000), Joker (516,000) and The Lion King (512,000).

Three other Danish films were in the Top 10: the comedy Hunting Season (473,000), the hostage drama Daniel (473,000) and Nordic Council Film Prize winning drama Queen of Hearts (333,000).

All but one title among the top 10 Danish films of 2019 were released by Nordisk Film. SF Studios distributed the sixth biggest local title Out of Tune (212,000 admissions) and Finnish franchise Angry Bird 2, second best-selling Nordic film (non-Danish) after the Swedish biopic Becoming Astrid under Nordisk Film’s aegis.

Among independent arthouse distributors, Camera Film enjoyed the successful release of the Icelandic film Woman at War and Norwegian film Out Stealing Horses, 3rd and 4th best selling Nordic film, as well as Photographer of War, most successful documentary of 2019 with 14,000 admissions.

Commenting on the 2019 theatrical market, Claus Ladegaard, CEO at the Danish Film Institute said: "We can look back on a year of strong and significant films. Queen of Hearts was declared a major work in Danish film, and its controversial theme gave us a lot to talk about. Hard-hitting Checkered Ninja drew cinemagoers in high numbers, ending up as the most watched Danish film in 34 years. And there were films on small budgets like Uncle and Sons of Denmark that touched us with their uncompromising stories. It's been a year with a great range in voices and narratives. I am pleased to note that Danish film, with a market share of 26%, is still among the top countries in European cinema,” he added. 

Regarding the 2020 Danish films slate, Ladegaard said he anticipates ‘a great variety’, with films ranging “from novel stories from first-time directors to quite a few films from established names with experience from Hollywood and the streaming networks, such as Ole Christian Madsen, Lone Scherfig, Thomas Vinterberg and Martin Zandvliet."  The head of the DFI also underlined the number of historical dramas and comedies with broad audience appeal that should do well at the B.O.

Looking ahead, Ladegaard added: “We hope in the next half year to reach a healthy model for the big streaming companies to contribute to the Danish film economy. And 2020 will see the results of a study that we've been conducting on the cultural significance of Danish film. We need to better understand how films impact our lives, because therein lies the crux of it all – how movies matter to their audience,” he concluded.

To see Denmark 2019 - January to December Admissions Charts: CLICK HERE.