Top grossing “Cheburashka”
According to data from the Unified Federal Automated Information System on Film Screenings in Movie Theaters, released at the start of the year, Cheburashka has already become the highest-grossing domestically produced film in Russia, with earnings surpassing 3.09 billion rubles.
The family comedy surpassed the former box office leader, Klim Shipenko’s Serf, which had tallied 3.082 billion rubles. The budget for Kholop stood at 160 million rubles, while Cheburashka’s production costs reached 850 million rubles, as reported by UAIS.
“We are very pleased that Cheburashka and other New Year’s releases help cinemas stay financially healthy and restore faith in the repertoire and the cinema-going experience”, commented a representative from Yellow, Black and White. The remarks were conveyed to the press agency.
The director of Cheburashka, Dmitry Dyachenko, suggested that audiences should expect a sequel, noting to media outlets that the film’s total box office reflects not only the New Year holiday but also the days following December 23, when limited screenings began.
Cheburashka is described as a family comedy suitable for viewers aged six and older. The plot follows the adventures of Cheburashka in a small seaside town after arriving from a distant orange country. The cast features Sergei Garmash, Elena Yakovleva, Polina Maksimova, Fedor Dobronravov, and Sergei Lavygin, with the title character voiced by Olga Kuzmina.
Unrivaled
Recently, a deputy from the State Duma announced on a messaging platform that a bill is being discussed to establish mandatory licensing for foreign films in Russian distribution.
According to the deputy, it may be time to finalize the debate on a mandatory licensing mechanism for Western movies. The proposal envisions cinemas legally screening new foreign films without relying on the semi-legal pre-show service practice, he indicated.
He suggested that such a change could allow a blockbuster like Avatar 3 to compete more effectively at the Russian box office. The first Avatar film reportedly earned about 3.5 billion rubles domestically and held the record for over a decade, but with new competition, Cheburashka might soon become the top earner in the market.
In a conversation with a media outlet, Anatoly Semyonov, who heads a working group on licensing Western films and serves as a deputy, shared concerns about the proposal facing opposition.
He noted that the project was introduced to the State Duma by Dmitry Kuznetsov, and that political and industry tensions could slow progress. Semyonov pointed to the influence of various lobbyists and noted that some cinemas with foreign ownership might resist legal changes that would increase competition. He argued that if cinemas only show Cheburashka, the film’s wage prospects rise, but warned about broader access to foreign cinematic achievements being constrained.
According to him, decision-makers appear to listen to industry lobbyists rather than ensuring broad cultural access for the public.
Producers have been asked if legalizing foreign cinema is desirable. The response, according to Semyonov, is often favorable toward maintaining current dynamics, with a hope that Cheburashka can reach everyone. The question remains why audiences should not also see the best achievements of world cinema.
“There are no such fees out of despair”
Vitaly Shlyappo, a producer and screenwriter for Cheburashka, commented that the film’s success is not a result of the departure of foreign titles from Russian theaters.
He explained that price trends do not spike out of desperation; rather, strong early attendance can lead to a natural decline as word-of-mouth takes effect. He observed that people who have not previously visited cinemas are choosing to attend based on recommendations and online impressions.
Shlyappo noted that the Cheburashka team did not anticipate such a high level of box office performance. He attributed the strong numbers to the creators’ effort to reach a broad audience, saying that adults appreciate the humor on their level while younger viewers connect with the film’s charm.
Overall, the narrative emphasizes that audience engagement, accessible storytelling, and robust family appeal have driven the film’s sustained success, independent of external shifts in foreign film distribution.