TÜİK announces: 'Cinema audience decreased by 15 percent'

The Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) has published its "Cinema and Performing Arts Statistics" bulletin for the year 2025. According to the data, while the number of cinema-goers dropped by 15 percent compared to the previous year to 27.6 million, interest in performing arts such as theater, opera, and ballet has surged.

The TÜİK data, which sheds light on the past year in the culture and arts world, clearly revealed the impact of the rise of digital platforms and changing audience habits on the silver screen. As cinema seats emptied, theater and opera houses were packed.

BLOOD LOSS ON THE SILVER SCREEN: DOMESTIC FILM AUDIENCE DROPS SHARPLY

According to information compiled from the administrative records of the General Directorate of Cinema, a total of 771 films were screened in 2,161 cinema halls across Turkey last year. While 417 of these films were released for the first time, 159 of the newly released productions were domestic films, and 258 were foreign films.

Despite the number of films screened, the decline in audience numbers was notable:

•Total Audience: Recorded as 27 million 657 thousand 591 people, a decrease of 15 percent.

•Domestic Film Audience: Domestic productions took the biggest hit. The number of domestic film viewers fell by 18.3 percent to 15 million 96 thousand 336 people.

•Foreign Film Audience: Calculated as 12 million 561 thousand 255, a decrease of 10.7 percent.

•Record in theater halls: Audience exceeded 8.1 million

Contrary to the decline in cinema, theater halls had a busy season. As of the 2024-2025 season, the number of theater halls in Turkey reached 1,101, and the number of seats reached 494 thousand 184. While the number of works performed increased by 4.8 percent compared to the previous season to 10 thousand 216, the total number of audience members was recorded as 8 million 183 thousand 257.

Other details that stand out in theater data are as follows:

•State Theaters: Throughout the season, a total of 6 thousand 667 performances were held with 237 works, 99 of which were copyrighted and 138 of which were translations, reaching 1 million 951 thousand 41 audience members.

•Explosion in Translated Works: While the number of audience members for translated works in theater increased by 14 percent to 2 million 459 thousand 735, the audience for copyrighted works decreased by 2.9 percent.

•Children's Plays on the Rise: While the number of children's play performances increased by 5.5 percent to 13 thousand 156, the number of child audience members also showed an increase of 5.3 percent.

INTENSE INTEREST IN OPERA AND BALLET, DECLINE IN MUSIC ENSEMBLES

The most remarkable rise of the season occurred in opera and ballet halls. The number of performances held in 6 provinces under the General Directorate of State Opera and Ballet increased by 21.8 percent, while the number of opera and ballet audience members also increased by 16.5 percent compared to the previous season, reaching 511 thousand 376.

A general decline was observed in the activities of 6 orchestras, 11 choirs, and 11 ensembles affiliated with the General Directorate of Fine Arts. The total number of audience members in these areas decreased by 11 percent to 436 thousand 227. While the number of choir audience members brought smiles with a 27.6 percent increase, the number of orchestra audience members decreased by 15.3 percent, and the number of audience members for other ensembles decreased by 25.5 percent.