Norwegian films had a 14.7% market share against 16.5% the same period in 2016.

Families and young adults remain faithful to the silver screen in Norway as admissions climbed to 5.8 million, up 0.8% from 2016’s record year since 1983 at the same period. Norwegian films had a 14.7% market share (against 16.5% the same time in 2016), thanks notably to the stop motion animated In the Forest of Huckybucky that sold 206,150 tickets during that period, on top of 225,702 tickets sold between December 25-31, 2016.

At number seven, Rasmus A. Sivertsen’s film was the only Norwegian film at the Norwegian Top 10, although three other local youth films had satisfactory results and are respectively number 17,18,19 as of mid-September: the music documentary about pop idols Marcus & Martinus-Together (141,339 admissions), and the franchise films Casper and Emma-Go Hiking by Arne Lindtner Næss (135,806) and Trio-The Hunt for the Holy Shrine by Eva Dahr (133,486).

Guttorm Petterson, Head of Film & Kino said: “The theatrical market in Norway seems to be very stable and even growing. 2016 was the best year since 1983. The first five months were better than at the same time last year, but since the summer (June and July) has been bad for the business, we have now fallen behind. The challenge will be the fall or the last six months, which is the main season of the year. It will be tough to compete with last year’s local Norwegian movies that ended with three of them at the top [The King’s Choice, Carpenter Andersen Meets Santa and Børning 2). A lot will depend on family movies like The Ashlad: In the Hall of the Mountain King (29.09.17), Anchors Up-Boast to the Rescue (06.10.17), Casper & Emma Put up a Play (27. 10.17) and Twigson the Explorer (17.11.17).  The 12th Man (25.12.17) will come too late to dominate this year, but The Snowman (13.10.17) – an adaption of Jo Nesbø’s book, may help as well as several other non-Norwegian titles.”