After months of restrictions due to the pandemic, Sweden was finally fully back to business this Wednesday, after Norway and Denmark while Finland was set to lift practically all its social distancing rules and sanitary protocols October 1^st. Iceland is still affected by some social distancing measures and limitations.

The back to cinema business in most of the Nordics coincided with the launch on Thursday in Denmark, Finland, Sweden and on Friday October 1st in Norway of the latest Daniel Craig James Bond movie, awaited like the first aid of post-pandemic cinemagoing. Icelanders will have to hold their breath until October 8.

Before the 007 agent screen splash, several Nordic films enjoyed screen space and audience attention last weekend, while Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi Dune continued to dominate the top 10 across the region in its second weekend on screens.

In Denmark, Charlotte Sieling’s epic drama Margrete-Queen of the North sold an extra 46,035 tickets from 136 screens for SF Studios, pushing total tally to 139,204 in its second weekend. Frederik Malling Juul, Head of Theatrical Distribution Denmark told nordicfilmandtvnews.com that SF Studios was satisfied with the opening numbers. “They have proved that people are back in the cinemas, and with no restrictions we remain confident. Of course, it is quite exciting to see what Bond will do, but he cannot harm her too much, being in her majesty’s secret service!’ he quipped.

Juul anticipated the Trine Dyrholm vehicle to ‘suffer’ from No Time to Die’s screen monopoly the opening weekend, but expected 'things to normalize’ afterwards.

His views were shared by Klaus Odegaard, Nordisk Film’s VP Acquisition, Marketing and Theatrical Distribution. “We expect the films that have played well up until this point, to keep their screens in the longer run, so we will not lose bookings in the multiplexes, but will have limited capacity until next week,” he said.

Nordisk Film is enjoying the roaring success of the Danish animated phenomenon Checkered Ninja 2 co-directed by Anders Matthesen and Thorbjørn Christoffersen which has sold 781,322 tickets since its August launch, despite screen restrictions, making it by far the top selling Danish film of 2021. “We are ahead of the first Checkered Ninja movie, even though it was released during Christmas [2018], which shows the strength of the sequel. Absolutely amazing!” said Odegaard. The first film ended up with nearly 1 million admissions in Denmark.

Two other Danish films made it in the top 10 last weekend: the documentary Kandis for Life by Jesper Dalsgaard which opened at number 8 for Camera Film, selling 4,186 total tickets.

Meanwhile Bille August’s The Pact continued to climb steadily in its 8^th week on screens via SF Studios. The drama added 3,725 tickets to reach 230,428 total admissions to date, making it the second biggest Danish film of the year.

Camera Film’s other documentary premiere It is Not Over Yet by Louise Detlefsen attracted 1,242 cinemagoers.

In Finland, where venues were still at 50% capacity until Thursday in the Uusimaa/Nyland region- including the capital area and accounting for 35% of the market- the SF/Warner Bros release Dune dominated the screens last weekend with 75,600 admissions after two weeks.

The first local film -the comedy Reunion 3 by Finnish Hollywood export Renny Harlin entered at number 5, selling an extra 5,304 tickets from 45 screens. Total admissions for the Nordisk Film release have passed 155,000.

At number 6, the local family film Finders of the Lost Yacht by Taavi Vartia sold another 2,206 tickets from 45 screens, pushing total numbers for the Finnkino/Nelonen title to 64,892.

Other local titles in the top 10 were the SF Studios comedy The Potato Venture by Joona Tena with 62,587 total admissions, and the Venice award-winner The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic by Teemu Nikki, watched by 7,412 Finns in its 3^rd week. The film was distributed by the production company It’s Alive Films.

In Iceland restrictions are still in place, with maximum screen capacity capped at 200. "The market is getting better, but it seems like it takes time to get the same numbers as in [pre-Covid-time]. Hopefully Bond will kickstart things again," said Daníel Traustason, Head of FRÍSK, Iceland's Association of Film & TV Rights Holders.
Last weekend, the Cannes Un Certain Regard entry Lamb by Valdimar Jóhannsson entered at number 4 in its opening weekend, after Dune, Shang-Ci and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Around the World in 80 Days. The film released by Sena attracted 1,545 moviegoers.

In Norway where restrictions were unexpectedly lifted by the government last Saturday at 4pm, exhibitors just had time to rearrange their venues to prepare them for a full capacity.

The family film Clue-The Maltese Mystery by Thale Persen was the most popular Norwegian film, ranked 5^thin its 5^th week on screens. The Nordisk Film release has sold 42,143 tickets so far.

Petter Næss’ comedy Nothing to Laugh About was number 6 (27,287 total admissions, SF Norge) and Bent Hamer’s Toronto Fest entry The Middle Man stayed at number 10 for Norsk Filmdistribusjon, with 4,971 total admissions after two weeks.

Elsewhere Eskil Vogt’s The Innocents hasn’t quite lived up to expectations, with 12,212 total admissions after 4 weeks for Mer Film Distribution, while the anticipated a-ha -The Movie documentary released by Euforia dropped by 42% week on week, with total admissions just over 15,000 after four weeks.

So far the biggest Norwegian hit of 2021 is Tommy Wirkola’s high concept comedy thriller The Trip starring Alksel Hennie and Noomi Rapace with 90,078 admissions for SF Studios.

Among documentaries, the award-winning Young & Afraid by newcomers Petter Aaberg and Sverre Kvamme opened last weekend at number 15, with 1,446 tickets sold via Indie Film.

In Sweden, where cinemas finally opened to full capacity on Wednesday, two local family films based on well-known IP have captured audiences’ attention.

Caroline Cowan’s Eva & Adam stayed at number 7 last weekend, with an extra 4,045 admissions from 86 screens. Admissions to date for the SF Studios release are 28,888.

Sune - Mission Midsummer by Erland Beskow was the 8^th biggest film of the weekend and continued to play in 59 screens after 16 weeks on screens. So far 194,408 Swedes have watched the latest adventures of the young Sune Andersson and his family.

Sources: FAFID, Danish Film Institute, FRÍSK, Finnish Film Foundation, Filmikamari, Norske Filmbyråers Forening, Film & Kino, Filmweb.no, Filmägarnas Kontrollbyrå.