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Crisis splits Euro B.O.

First half revenue up in France, U.K., Germany; south suffers

Northwards, first-half theatrical revenues hiked 4.7% in France ($838 million), according to its Cnc film board, and 4.0% in the U.K. ($866.0 million) and 2.9% in Germany ($590 million), per Rentrak.

Down south, January-June B.O. plunged 12% in both Spain ($350 million) and Italy ($372 million).

British GDP contracted 0.3%, January-March, France's grew 0.3%, sluggishly. But there are crises and crises.

In London and Paris, halting recovery may help explain current hits. Physical video trading has suffered. In Spain and Italy, theater tickets are beyond many people's normal budgets.

For U.K. auds, ''the biggest films, which are driving the market, often have an element of escapism. That's what's needed right now,'' said Danny Perkins, Studiocanal CEO, U.K.

But if the recession's really had an effect, it's on U.K. physical video retail sales, which plunged a first-half 7%, he added.

Hollywood drove U.K. and German B.O. A breakthrough, ''The Avengers'' topped U.K. charts ($82.9 million), ranking second in Germany ($31.6 million).

''Avengers''' success was ''new for superhero movies in Germany: It was perceived as a real event movie,'' said Arne Schmidt, at German multiplex operator Cinemaxx.

Through June 30, ''Prometheus'' ($35.5 million) ranked third in Blighty. ''Men in Black 3'' ($31.1 million) placed sixth in the U.K. All underscore resilient international appetite for 3D.

Dismal summer weather also gave exhibitors good cheer across northern Europe.

Led by ''Houba! On the Trail of the Marsupilami'' ($43.4 million) and ''Would I Lie To You? 3'' ($38.5 million), four French comedies featured in Gaul's top five, per France's CBO Box-Office.

British films also worked well: ''The Woman in Black'' punched $33.6 million, sleeper ''The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel'' $32.0 million.

Meanwhile, Gallic phenom ''The Intouchables'' topped German ($77.4 million) and Spanish ($21.0 million) first half rankings.

It's debatable whether France's comedy boom is crisis-linked.

''When cinemagoing is booming, as in France, it's because of working class audiences who appreciate cinema as entertainment. So comedies and adventures account for most ticket sales,'' said Marc-Olivier Sebbag, at France's Fncf exhibitors' association.

Italy and Spain read from different playbooks.

With few exceptions, Hollywood blockbusters systematically underperformed , ''Mission: Impossible , Ghost Protocol'' pulled a mere $7.9 million in Italy.

By contrast, European pics have clicked with Italian auds. ''Intouchables'' made $17 million, local laffer ''Benvenuti al Nord'' $33 million.

Industryites point to both crisis , official youth unemployment runs at 49% in Spain and 31% in Italy , and a dearth of strong product, especially in summer, as causes.

Spanish cinema had just one out-and-out hit: ''I Want You'' ($8.1 million through June 30).

B.O. in Spain held up pretty well in early crisis, said David Rodriguez, Rentrak general manager, Spain and Portugal.

But now, ''people either don't have money or, if they do, they're afraid to spend it, fearing for the future.''

Robert Mitchell, Diana Lodderhose, Elsa Keslassy, Ed Meza and Nick Vivarelli contributed to this report.

http://www.variety.c...News|LatestNews

Edited by firedeep
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