A recent study conducted by Mediacom.Expert in partnership with Surveyolog.ru and reviewed by socialbites.ca reveals cinema habits among Russians over the past six months. About 40 percent of Russians went to the movies in this period, with the majority attending two to five times. Roughly one in four went once, and a small group watched about ten times. A small segment, around three percent, became avid moviegoers, visiting cinemas more than ten times in half a year.
The study found a generally balanced view of domestic cinema. About 64 percent of respondents held a neutral stance, acknowledging both strengths and weaknesses in Russian film output. Positive perceptions were expressed by 30 percent, noting improvements in the quality of new Russian productions, while 6 percent voiced a distinctly negative opinion.
When asked about genres and formats, original stories attracted 63 percent of respondents, while film adaptations of historical events drew 43 percent and literature-inspired adaptations 40 percent. Remakes of Soviet-era films accounted for 12 percent of responses.
More than half of those surveyed welcomed adaptations based on traditional Russian fairy tales, with 54 percent expressing a positive view, 35 percent neutral, and 11 percent negative.
Domestic animation enjoys broad support, with 93 percent of respondents watching it and 45 percent doing so quite frequently. Overall, 68 percent view domestic animation positively, 30 percent remain neutral, and 2 percent hold a negative opinion.
The perception of Russian cinema relative to foreign cinema is mixed. About 48 percent rate domestic films on par with international ones, 27 percent believe Russian cinema lags behind Western productions, and 25 percent feel Russian films are superior.
Foreign films remain popular, with 71 percent of respondents following the latest Hollywood releases. Among them, 54 percent watch films occasionally and 17 percent regularly; 29 percent show little to no interest in foreign productions.
When asked to name the best foreign film of 2023, more than one third of respondents could not identify a top title, highlighting a diversity of opinions and a broad field of notable releases.
Moviegoing is often a social activity: couples account for 41 percent of cinema trips, followed by visits with children (35 percent), friends (29 percent), and family members such as parents (28 percent). A significant portion of attendees also go alone (12 percent) or with colleagues (3 percent).
Ticket prices vary, with the majority paying between 200 and 400 rubles for a single ticket. About 29 percent paid between 400 and 700 rubles, while a small share paid under 200 rubles or over 700 rubles. Most respondents, 69 percent, consider ticket prices fair, though nearly a third view them as high and a small fraction as low.
Snack and beverage expenses echo similar patterns. Around 26 percent spend 200 to 400 rubles on concessions, 23 percent do not buy anything at the cinema, 22 percent spend 400 to 700 rubles, and a minority spends more than 1000 rubles. A notable portion allocates modest sums for snacks, while others cut back.
Online cinema continues to rise in importance, with 77 percent of respondents consuming movies or TV series through streaming platforms. Among online viewers, nearly a third watch several times per month, a quarter do so weekly, and about 23 percent stream almost every day.
Subscription models shape viewing choices. More than half of respondents are not willing to pay extra for films not included in a subscription. About a quarter are generally open to paying for a film they enjoy, and roughly 19 percent have paid for an individual film as part of a subscription package.
Free content also plays a role. About a third of respondents occasionally watch pirated films or series, often because the title is not available within their subscription. Roughly 30 percent routinely seek free content, and low ad intrusion explains why some avoid free options. A smaller segment dislikes the lower quality of pirated copies and watches less as a result.
Reaction to promoted titles is mostly calm. Seventy-five percent engage with promoted films and series when the topic interests them, while 17 percent tend to ignore these releases and 8 percent frequently seek flashy new products.
Bookish and critical habits persist. Seventy percent of respondents read reviews of new movies, with half doing so occasionally and 17 percent reading reviews before nearly every viewing. This reflects a culture of informed consumption around new releases.
Historically, Russia has been a significant market for European cinema, including French productions, and continues to be an important arena for film distribution and audience engagement across genres and platforms.