Popcorn, a big screen and epic movies make for an awesome combination. Yet global cinema attendance remains stubbornly below pre-pandemic levels and revenues are down. The streaming revolution is the primary culprit, though soaring ticket prices are no doubt partly to blame as major multiplex chains and arthouse indies alike grapple with surging operational costs.

Cinemas are pulling out all the stops to lure back filmgoers, with everything from luxury seating and gourmet food to enhanced audiovisual tech on offer. But these premium experiences come at a premium price, potentially exacerbating the issue.

As ticket prices reach record highs, read on to find out how much a seat for an international release costs in selected countries, according to cost of living website Numbeo. 

All dollar amounts in US dollars. Figures correct as of April 2025.

Back in the 1950s when it was dubbed the island of cinemas, Cuba boasted 511 movie theatres, with Havana counting more than New York and Paris. Although the figure has fallen to 221, Cuba still ranks among the countries with the most cinemas per capita.

Censorship is rife in the communist nation, and trailers and advertisements are absent from screenings. Subsidised to the hilt by the government, tickets are astonishingly cheap – so cheap, it's reported, that many Cubans gain admittance simply to enjoy the air conditioning. But if you consider Cuba's average monthly salary of just $35.35 (£27.50), this seemingly rock-bottom ticket price actually represents the highest in relative cost among all the countries in this comparison.

Bucking the global trend, cinema attendance is booming in Indonesia, with admissions up a healthy 10% last year. The Jakarta Post reports this surge is fuelled by 'de-Hollywoodification,' as Indonesian cinemagoers increasingly embrace homegrown films and movies from Asian countries over Hollywood blockbusters.

In 2024, locally produced comedy-horror Agak Laen was Indonesia's top-grossing film, while Thai comedy-drama How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies ranks as the most popular foreign movie. Of course, the country's generally low cinema ticket prices are a key factor in attracting audiences, but they can vary wildly in cost from venue to venue.

India's cinemas have been having a tough time enticing customers since the pandemic, especially amid the rise of streaming services in the country. Ticket prices differ dramatically; higher prices in the north are deterring moviegoers, but cinemas are packed out in several southern Indian states where ticket prices are capped as low as 120 rupees ($1.40/£1.09). And some chains offer 99 rupee ($1.15/£0.90) tickets on National Cinema Day and the opening day of selected movies.

When it comes to movie preferences, Hollywood takes a backseat in India. The nation's box office is dominated by the mighty Bollywood movie industry, along with others like Tollywood and Kollywood. Pushpa: The Rule - Part 2 topped the charts last year and is now India's highest-grossing film of all time. In contrast, the top-earning American movie, Mufasa: The Lion King, ranks only 16th in terms of box-office receipts.

Colombia's average cinema ticket price is very reasonable from an international standpoint, but its relative cost is among the highest in this round-up, coming in at over 1% of the average monthly salary of $383.32 (£300).

Cine Colombia, the nation's leading chain, has a range of prices, with weekend IMAX screenings in Bogotá reaching 34,800 pesos ($7.93/£6.22). But the chain, as well as rivals such as Procinal and Cinépolis, offers promotional tickets from time to time for as low as 6,000 pesos ($1.37/£1.07).

A nation of moviegoers, Mexico ranks fourth globally in cinema ticket sales, after India, China and the US. The country has the most screens per capita in Latin America and the highest number of admissions per capita as well. The average ticket price of $4.36 (£3.42) is cheap from an international perspective, but Americans and Europeans pay less in relation to the average monthly wage.

Mexico is home to a thriving domestic film industry, but the top 10 grossing movies of last year were all American, from the number one, Pixar blockbuster Inside Out 2, to superhero flick Venom: The Last Dance, which took the 10th spot.

Malaysia features in the Guinness World Records as the country with the lowest annual cinema attendance per capita. Although the data for the record is out of date, going to the movies is still unpopular in Malaysia, with ticket sales in 2023 down by over half compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Tempting Malaysians away from their sofas and streaming services is proving difficult, despite the relatively low ticket prices in the country.

On top of streaming competition and other headwinds, Russia's cinemas have had to deal with the absence of Hollywood blockbusters. Major US studios, including Disney and Warner Bros, suspended new releases in Russia in March 2022 following the country's invasion of Ukraine. The lack of Hollywood content has tanked attendance numbers and left some cinemas almost empty at times.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin's war spending has spiked inflation in the nation, and the average cinema ticket price, while remaining highly affordable from a global standpoint, has climbed 24% over the past year.

Chile's cinema industry is struggling to get people back in cinemas post-pandemic. Leading chains like Cinemark and Cinépolis have launched promotions, and cheap tickets are distributed on Cinema Days, but attendance levels remain disappointingly low.

While Chile is renowned for its domestic movie industry, the most popular movies in 2024 hail from the US. Inside Out 2 grossed the highest revenue, and the entire top 10 is made up of Hollywood productions.

Türkiye's cinema industry is in an even more dire situation, with attendance levels at a 20-year low. A growing preference among Turkish filmmakers for digital platforms and the rising popularity of streaming among the public has fundamentally changed the landscape. But the major turn-off is mushrooming ticket prices.

Though the current average ticket price of $5.79 (£4.55) may seem very modest to many outside observers, it was as low as $0.50 (£0.39) in 2020, according to online news platform Türkiye Today.

On the flip side, cinema has bounced back spectacularly in Brazil. Last year, the number of movie theatres in the country jumped to a record 3,509, and over 121 million Brazilians went to the movies.

Again, Inside Out 2 was the top-grossing title, while acclaimed homegrown drama I'm Still Here, which is the first Brazilian film to win the Oscar for Best International Feature Film, ranks an impressive fifth. This rebound is all the more surprising given the average ticket price is the third-most expensive in this round-up when the typical monthly wage is factored in. That said, ticket promotions offering much lower prices have been a crucial element of the resurgence.

Inflation and the government's austerity policies are making a trip to the cinema a luxury for many in Argentina. Though there are bargains to be had, including discounted tickets at quieter times and on certain days, prices have generally shot up, and the average ticket now costs more than 1% of the mean monthly wage.

It's no wonder then that cinema attendance is muted in the country. In February, the figure plunged by almost 27%.

The average price of a cinema ticket is also expensive in comparative terms in the Philippines. It's actually the second-highest in this round-up in relation to the average monthly salary.

These relatively high prices have made the cinema an expensive treat for the country's lower-income families, who are staying away in their droves, according to news site Philstar Global. This, coupled with the growing popularity of streaming services, is leading to a marked decline in cinema attendance across the Philippines.

Cinema attendance fell by well over 20% in China last year. With the country's economy in the doldrums and consumer spending down, moviegoers stayed home en masse despite lower ticket prices. The industry's fortunes did pick up during the Lunar New Year in January and February, but whether the rebound can be sustained throughout the rest of 2025 remains to be seen.

China's flagging cinema attendance is bad enough for Hollywood, but the US movie industry is also losing appeal with Chinese audiences. Homegrown feminist comedy Yolo was last year's highest-grossing movie, while Chinese animated hit Ne Zha 2 is the current number one.

The movie theatres of South Africa aren't having the best time either. Cinema ticket prices have spiked as operational costs have increased. With many South Africans already stretched by rising living costs, attendance levels have understandably declined.

South Africa's cinemas have also had to contend with frequent power cuts related to the load-shedding crisis and other challenges, including delays in the release of US titles resulting from the SAG-AFTRA strike of Hollywood actors and writers. As a consequence, major chain Ster-Kinekor shut down nine movie theatres across the country last year.

Boosted by a boom in the domestic film industry, cinemas are flourishing in Peru, even though the average ticket is rather costly in comparative terms, making up 1.4% of the typical monthly salary. Experts are pinning their hopes on 2025 becoming a record year for the nation's box office as the industry goes from strength to strength.

Heartwarming dog flick Vaguito was the most successful domestically made film in 2024, but US blockbuster Kung Fu Panda 4 ranks as the highest-grossing.

Cinema ticket prices have remained steady in Spain and are among the cheapest in Europe, but attendance levels dropped by 5% last year. Experts put this down to the delay in movie releases at the start of the year due to the SAG-AFTRA strike.

Reflecting other countries, Inside Out 2 was the top-grossing movie in Spain in 2024, while the most popular domestically produced movie, Father There is Only One 4, took the seventh position.

Cinema admissions slipped 22% in Taiwan last year and box office takings dropped by $44 million (£34.5m). Meanwhile, ticket price hikes have outpaced inflation and this, combined with the growing popularity of streaming, is likely responsible for the downturn, with Taiwan's per capita movie attendance now among the lowest in Asia.

On the bright side, a must-see US blockbuster can still clean up in Taiwan. Last year's number one, Inside Out 2, grossed a tidy $15.8 million (£12.4m) in the country.

The average cinema ticket in Italy is slightly more expensive both nominally and in relation to the typical monthly wage. Box office revenues and admissions did decline marginally in 2024, but the industry held up reasonably well given challenges like the release delays for several Hollywood blockbusters and the pull of streaming services.

Once again, Inside Out 2 topped the chart, which was dominated by US movies. The most successful Italian films of 2024 include The Boy with the Pink Trousers, the ninth highest-grossing movie overall, and the 12th most popular title, Parthenope.

South Korean cinemas have also seen declines in audience numbers and receipts, which fell 1.6% and 5.3% respectively in 2024, according to official figures reported by The Korea Herald newspaper. Typical ticket prices have actually fallen as cinema chains have increased discount promotions, so the slump has more to do with factors such as the growth in streaming.

Hollywood is less of a draw in South Korea, whose movie industry has conquered the world. Homegrown horror Exhuma reigns as the top-grossing movie of 2024, and South Korean films take up seven places among the top 10 earners.

Cinema tickets in Canada are cheaper than in the US, but Canadians pay more relative to their income. Costs have been creeping up; in December, leading chain Cineplex hiked prices nationwide.

Still, the chain's revenues ticked up in 2024. But for the purposes of industry reporting and analysis, Canada's box office is combined with that of the US, forming the North American box office total. This figure fell by $350 million (£275m) in 2024.

Singaporeans have the best deal in this round-up when typical pay is considered. The average cinema ticket costs just 0.3% of the mean monthly salary. By way of comparison, the figure for Cuba is 2.7%.

Despite this affordability, filmgoing is on the wane in the city-state as an increasing number of erstwhile cinema fans choose to stay at home and stream movies from the comfort of their sofa. Singaporeans are also swapping the movies for other forms of entertainment, so it figures that cinema attendance levels have nosedived.

New Zealand's cinemas are affordable by Western standards, with the average ticket costing 0.4% of the typical monthly wage.

New Zealand is among the minority of countries seeing a resurgence in cinema rather than a slump. Admissions over the past summer were up 9%. Disney's Moana 2 was the biggest draw with 502,000 and is now the second-highest-grossing film of all time in New Zealand. It was followed by Hollywood musical Wicked, which shifted 286,000 tickets.

The UK's average cinema ticket price represents around 0.42% of the typical monthly salary, which is on the low side. Moviegoing is far more popular in the UK than it is in elsewhere and admissions climbed to 126.5 million last year, up from 123.6 million in 2023. In Europe, only France recorded more. However, attendance isn't set to return to pre-pandemic levels in Britain until 2026.

Higher ticket prices are slowing the resurgence. According to a 2024 survey from the British Film Institute (BFI), more than a third of people questioned said the price of the ticket was the main reason they avoided the cinema in the preceding 12 months.

Japan's box office revenue fell by 6.5% last year and admissions were down by 7.1%, falling to 144.4 million. The relative lack of Hollywood blockbusters during the first half of 2024 is reportedly the key dampener, with homegrown productions saving the day.

Last year, anime flick Detective Conan: The Million-Dollar Pentagram turned over the most money in Japan, generating $97.5 million (£76.7m), with another anime hit, Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle, taking the runner-up spot.

As mentioned, the cinema remains mega-popular in France. Last year, the country of avid filmgoers scored 181.3 million admissions, more than any other European nation and an increase of 900,000 from 2023.

Hollywood has less pulling power in France, where the domestic film industry thrives. In 2024, homegrown comedy A Little Something Extra was the biggest hit, grossing $82 million (£64.5m), while the runner-up, The Count of Monte Cristo, was also a French production.

Austria's average ticket price is identical to France's at $13.18 (£10.35), but the relative cost is a little lower given Austria has a higher typical monthly wage. In any case, the comparative affordability hasn't done much for attendance figures.

Last year, the number dropped from 11.7 million to 10.5 million and is significantly below the 17 million recorded in 2010, with the unstoppable rise of streaming signalling a fundamental shift in entertainment consumption in the country.

Ireland had more per capita cinema visits in 2018 than any other European country. But admissions have fallen since the pandemic and last year the total number declined from 12.3 million to 11.6 million.

Streaming is yet again the driving factor behind the drop in cinema attendance. Irish audiences are increasingly opting for the convenience of at-home entertainment over the bother of venturing to a movie theatre, no matter how enhanced and luxurious the viewing experience. Pictured here is one of Dublin's Stella Cinemas.

Cinema is also losing its lustre among the German public. Last year, admissions fell by over 5% and remain below pre-pandemic levels. The fallout from the Hollywood strikes is a key reason, but longer-term factors such as the growth of streaming are contributing to the ongoing decline.

Plus, average cinema ticket prices have risen sharply in Germany over the past few years, though at $13.18 (£10.35), they're still affordable when compared to the nation's mean monthly salary.

In pure monetary terms, Australians pay more than their neighbours in New Zealand for the cinema, but the outlay is in fact the same when the nations' respective monthly salaries are factored in.

Aussie cinemas also enjoyed a bumper summer season last year. Admissions have increased by 9% as movie fans in the country flock to US family-friendly films, from Moana 2 and Wicked to Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Paddington in Peru.

The UAE is experiencing a surge in cinema attendance. The country's government officially ended censorship of foreign movies in 2021, and while a fair few overseas films still don't make it, there's far more content on offer in the UAE's cinemas these days.

Hollywood made big bucks in the nation in 2024, and the 10 most popular films were all American. Buddy cop action comedy movie Bad Boys: Ride or Die bagged the top spot, earning a total of $10.4 million (£8.2m).

In Belgium, cinema attendance tumbled by almost 7% in 2024, and per capita visits are reportedly among the lowest in Europe. On a more positive note, admissions did pick up nicely in the second half of the year when the Hollywood movie drought caused by the SAG-AFTRA strike came to an end.

Indeed, a Hollywood movie ended up grossing more than any other in Belgium in 2024, the worldwide hit Inside Out 2.

Last year, the domestic North American box office, which includes Canada, grossed $8.56 billion (£6.72bn), a decline of 4% from 2023. As is the case elsewhere, the Hollywood strikes were chiefly to blame but cinemas across the US are also taking a hit from the growth of streaming services.

What's more, the average cinema ticket price in America is historically high. Back in 1954 during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the typical ticket cost just $5.79 (£4.54) when adjusted for inflation, though the current average price is the second-cheapest in this round-up compared to typical salary. In terms of revenue, Inside Out 2 was the big winner in 2024, amassing $653 million (£512m), followed by Deadpool & Wolverine, which grossed $636.7 million (£500m).

Norway also saw a drop in cinema attendance last year, with its figure down to 8.2 million from 9.4 million in 2023. The pre-pandemic number came in at 11.3 million, so plenty of Norwegians are skipping the cinema, though the country still records a high number of movie theatres per capita and prices aren't overly high when adjusted for income. Interestingly, local productions have taken less of a battering than American flicks and other foreign movies.

That said, Inside Out 2 made the most money yet again, turning over a total of $6.2 million (£4.9m) in the Nordic nation.

Cinema attendance in the Netherlands, where ticket prices are on a par with the UK's in affordability terms, dropped from 31.7 million to 29.4 million last year. But while overall numbers were down, locally produced films had their best showing for eight years, according to the Dutch Association of Cinemas and Film Theatres (NVBF) and NVPI Film.

Nevertheless, US movies dominated box office takings. Deadpool & Wolverine was the highest-earner, pulling in $11.6 million (£9.1m), and US movies made up the entire 2024 Dutch top 10.

Cinema attendance numbers are also depressed in Sweden. Last year's total was 7.8% lower than 2023's and around 35% below pre-pandemic levels.

US films took in the most revenue, but several homegrown hits made very decent amounts in 2024. The most successful, The Last Journey, ranked as the fifth most-attended movie and is now Sweden's highest-grossing documentary film of all time.

Saudi Arabia overturned a blanket ban on cinemas in 2018, so going to the flicks remains something of a novelty in the country. Cinema prices have come down considerably following last year's decision by the Saudi Film Commission to slash movie theatre operating fees. Prices are still high in both nominal and relative terms but they were significantly higher before.

This, along with other factors such as less censorship and a government push to encourage cinema-going, is sparking a boom in movie theatre attendance in the country, where new venues are springing up at a rapid pace.

Denmark's box office performed better than its Nordic counterparts in 2024, though cinema admissions still fell last year, declining from 9.7 million to 9.4 million. While the average admission cost seems steep in the country, it's important to note that prices aren't excessive when compared to Denmark's generous average monthly salary of $3,781 (£3k).

According to industry website Cineuropa, ticket subscription services like Cinema Club Denmark helped keep attendance levels up in 2024. When it comes to highest-grossing films, Hollywood blockbusters took the top spots, but Danish productions did well all the same.

Swiss moviegoers shell out a staggering $23.45 (£18.40) on average for a cinema ticket, with the country's stiff labour costs and other inputs likely to blame. But living standards are exceptionally high in the affluent nation, and in relation to the typical monthly wage, the average ticket price is the third cheapest in this round-up, believe it or not.

Though Swiss films are seeing a renaissance, overall attendance numbers have fallen by 18% since the pandemic. Mirroring other countries, the rise of streaming is the prime contributor to the attendance drop in Switzerland, as audiences increasingly prefer the convenience and variety of at-home entertainment.

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