Facts & Figures

Going to the cinema is one of the most popular pastimes in Russia. Even in 2020, amid the pandemic and lockdowns, total box office revenues reached $346.7 million and audience figures, 88 million people.

- -59.4% – drop in box office revenues in 2020 compared with 2019 (only Japan had a smaller one at -47%)
- 5th biggest cinema audience in the world
- 8th largest box office revenues in the world
- $3.9 – average ticket price in 2020

☐Russian box office, $ mln

☐Audience, mln

Usually, Russian content accounts for about 25% of the total box office. In 2020, delays in the release of studio blockbusters were offset with local films, which pushed the share of Russian-produced content to nearly 50% of box office revenues.

Russian content, % ☐Foreign content, %

Number of theatrical releases

2020 box office by genre

The highest grossing films in 2020, $ mln

		Distributor	Box office, $ mln
1	Ice 2 (rus)	Sony	$23.354
2	The Gentlemen	Volga	$19.435
3	Invasion (rus)	Sony	$15.589
4	Tenet	Caro Premier	$12.708
5	The Croods: A New Age	Universal	$10.617

#1 Ice 2 (rus)

Distributor	Sony
Box office, $ mln	$23.354

#2 The Gentlemen

Distributor	Volga
Box office, $ mln	$19.435

#3 Invasion (rus)

Distributor	Sony
Box office, $ mln	$15.589

#4 Tenet

Distributor	Caro Premier
Box office, $ mln	$12.708

#5 The Croods: A New Age

Distributor	Universal
Box office, $ mln	$10.617

The highest grossing films in 2016-2020, $ mln

		Distributor	Box office, $ mln
1	3 Seconds (rus)	Central Partnership	$51.671
2	Son of a Rich (rus)	Central Partnership	$49.735
3	The Lion King	Disney	$41.967
4	Avengers: Endgame	Disney	$40.149
5	Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales	Disney	$37.885
6	T-34 (rus)	Central Partnership	$32.730
7	The Secret Life of Pets	Universal	$31.139
8	Avengers: Infinity War	Disney	$30.373
9	Maleficent: Mistress of Evil	Disney	$29.835
10	Venom	Sony	$29.377

#1 3 Seconds (rus)

Distributor	Central Partnership
Box office, $ mln	$51.671

#2 Son of a Rich (rus)

Distributor	Central Partnership
Box office, $ mln	$49.735

#3 The Lion King

Distributor	Disney
Box office, $ mln	$41.967

#4 Avengers: Endgame

Distributor	Disney
Box office, $ mln	$40.149

#5 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

Distributor	Disney
Box office, $ mln	$37.885

#6 T-34 (rus)

Distributor	Central Partnership
Box office, $ mln	$32.730

#7 The Secret Life of Pets

Distributor	Universal
Box office, $ mln	$31.139

#8 Avengers: Infinity War

Distributor	Disney
Box office, $ mln	$30.373

#9 Maleficent: Mistress of Evil

Distributor	Disney
Box office, $ mln	$29.835

#10 Venom

Distributor	Sony
Box office, $ mln	$29.377

In 2020, six major distributors accounted for 73.3% of the film distribution market in Russia:

- Central Partnership (presents its own productions, independent studios and Paramount content)
- SPPR
- Caro Premier (until March 2021, presented Warner Bros. content) and Caro Prokat
- Volga
- Universal
- Walt Disney Studios

The total number of cinema theatres in Russia is 1,968 and the total number of screens is 5,323.

In 2020, the biggest cinema chains in terms of box office were:

- Formula Kino / Cinema Park joint network (14.4%)
- Kinomax (7.2%)
- CARO (5.6%)
- Premier Zal (4.9%)
- Cinema 5 (4%)

Theatres ☐Screens

The OTT market in Russia is constantly growing. The contributing factors are extremely high internet penetration and the low cost of communication services as well as a large number of local players, which are in tough competition with each other and seek to attract viewers not only with international blockbusters but also with their own original productions.

- Market growth > +52 % annually, market size = $538 million in 2020, market growth forecast for 2021 +42%

- с20+ Russian legal OTT services
- 63 million – total audience of OTT services in 2020, including AVOD (+17%)
- SVOD generates 62% of all revenues
- 8.5 million paying subscribers in 2020 (up 50% against 2019), 27.4 million paid subscriptions (up 170% against 2019), 3.2 subscriptions per subscriber (up 70% against 2019)
- Average subscription fee ~$5
- An average of 1 Russian original project a week.

A detailed study of the VOD market is available to download here.

Local OTT players in Russia

The majority of OTT platforms form part of major business ecosystems:

- OKKO → SBER (bank)
- Kinopoisk → Yandex (‘Russian Google’)
- Premier → Gazprom-Media (oil & gas)
- More.tv → National Media Group (media)
- Kion (launched in April 2021) → MTS (telecom)

While the market leader, IVI, is an independent company.

Foreign OTT players in Russia

Only three international VOD services are available in Russia (Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV+). Their cumulative market share is ~ 10%

Netflix launched a fully localised service in Russia last year, with most of films now dubbed into Russian. The platform is now developing collaborations with Russian production companies.

Prime Video has been present in Russia for a long time but it seems that the Russian market is not a priority for it yet. New releases are available in Russian only with subtitles. There is practically no Russian content on the platform.

Apple TV+ releases most of its new projects dubbed into Russian. The interface is also localised, and a moderate subscription fee is charged in roubles.

Paramount+ and HBO Max are available in Russia through deals with local representatives.

Disney+ and Hulu launches are under negotiation with Russian partners.

Free-to-air TV

One important feature of the Russian media landscape is the continued popularity of free-to-air TV. The time people spend watching TV is decreasing year-on-year but still remains quite substantial.

In recent years, television has been integrating with other media, adapting TV broadcasting to the digital and cross-platform environment along with improving the quality of signal delivery, which – taken all together – creates a synergy effect aimed at attracting a younger audience and increasing user involvement in watching TV content.

Among other things, this process manifests in the launch of streaming and on-demand viewing both on TV channels’ own internet resources and in online cinemas, the development of HD and 4K technologies, as well as interactive services.

Top 10 national TV channels in 2020 among viewers in the 14-44 age group (this age bracket largely corresponds to the main cinema- and theatre-going audience in Russia)

TV channel	Share, %
СTС	10.24
TNT	8.41
Channel One	6.97
REN TV	6.80
NTV	5.77
TV-3	5.41
Karusel	5.23
Rossiya 1	4.88
Channel Five	4.55
Pyatnitsa	4.13

Source: Mediascope

Top 10 national TV channels in 2020 among viewers aged 4+

TV channel	Share, %
Rossiya 1	11.71
Channel One	10.16
NTV	9.74
Channel Five	6.44
REN TV	5.62
CTC	5.27
Domashny	4.90
Karusel	4.23
TNT	4.01
TV-3	3.65

Source: Mediascope

Traditionally, movies get higher TV ratings during the New Year holiday period than for the rest of the year as the audience, including young adults (14-44), are fond of watching Soviet classics at that time of the year. In the top 10 most popular films in the 14-44 age group in 2020, nine titles are films aired during the New Year holiday season.

Top 10: Most popular films on national TV in 2020 (viewers aged 14-44)

№	Film title	TV channel	Broadcast date	Rating, %	Share, %
1	IVAN VASILIEVICH: BACK TO THE FUTURE	Rossiya 1	31.12.2020	6.2	22.2
2	HARRY POTTER AND DEATHLY HALLOWS. PART 2	STS	08.01.2020	6.0	24.5
3	THE IRONY OF FATE, OR ENJOY YOUR BATH!	Channel One	31.12.2020	5.5	20.7
4	LOVE AND DOVES	Channel One	31.12.2020	5.3	23.3
5	HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX	CTC	05.01.2020	5.3	22.1
6	HOME ALONE 2	Channel One	02.01.2020	5.3	28.8
7	HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE	CTC	04.01.2020	5.1	22.5
8	GENTLEMEN OF FORTUNE	Channel One	31.12.2020	4.8	23.3
9	KIDNAPPING CAUCASSIAN STYLE, OR SHURIK’S NEW ADVENTURES	Rossiya 1	31.12.2020	4.7	18.5
10	ONLY OLD MEN ARE GOING TO BATTLE	Channel One	09.05.2020	4.6	24.1

Film title	IVAN VASILIEVICH: BACK TO THE FUTURE
TV channel	Rossiya 1
Broadcast date	31.12.2020
Rating, %	6.2
Share, %	22.2

Film title	HARRY POTTER AND DEATHLY HALLOWS. PART 2
TV channel	STS
Broadcast date	08.01.2020
Rating, %	6.0
Share, %	24.5

Film title	THE IRONY OF FATE, OR ENJOY YOUR BATH!
TV channel	Channel One
Broadcast date	31.12.2020
Rating, %	5.5
Share, %	20.7

Film title	LOVE AND DOVES
TV channel	Channel One
Broadcast date	31.12.2020
Rating, %	5.3
Share, %	23.3

Film title	HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX
TV channel	CTC
Broadcast date	05.01.2020
Rating, %	5.3
Share, %	22.1

Film title	HOME ALONE 2
TV channel	Channel One
Broadcast date	02.01.2020
Rating, %	5.3
Share, %	28.8

Film title	HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE
TV channel	CTC
Broadcast date	04.01.2020
Rating, %	5.1
Share, %	22.5

Film title	GENTLEMEN OF FORTUNE
TV channel	Channel One
Broadcast date	31.12.2020
Rating, %	4.8
Share, %	23.3

Film title	KIDNAPPING CAUCASSIAN STYLE, OR SHURIK’S NEW ADVENTURES
TV channel	Rossiya 1
Broadcast date	31.12.2020
Rating, %	4.7
Share, %	18.5

#10

Film title	ONLY OLD MEN ARE GOING TO BATTLE
TV channel	Channel One
Broadcast date	09.05.2020
Rating, %	4.6
Share, %	24.1

Source: Mediascope

At the same time, the top 10 most popular films in the 4+ age group for the same year feature a far greater number of new Russian releases and hardly any Hollywood content. The No 1 and No 3 on the list (Son of a Rich and T-34) were shown on TV for the first time ever.

Top 10: Most popular films on national TV in 2020 (viewers aged 4+)

№	Film title	TV channel	Broadcast date	Rating, %	Share, %
1	SON OF A RICH	Rossiya 1	04.11.2020	26.22	7.93
2	IVAN VASILIEVICH: BACK TO THE FUTURE	Rossiya 1	31.12.2020	20.07	7.68
3	Т-34	Rossiya 1	09.05.2020	26.71	6.96
4	LOVE AND DOVES	Channel One	31.12.2020	19.80	6.64
5	KIDNAPPING CAUCASSIAN STYLE, OR SHURIK’S NEW ADVENTURES	Rossiya 1	31.12.2020	17.66	6.45
6	THE LAST WARRIOR	Rossiya 1	01.01.2020	17.75	6.31
7	ONLY OLD MEN ARE GOING TO BATTLE	Channel One	09.05.2020	21.17	6.20
8	THE IRONY OF FATE, OR ENJOY YOUR BATH!	Channel One	31.12.2020	15.70	5.87
9	GENTLEMEN OF FORTUNE	Channel One	31.12.2020	17.74	5.38
10	HOME ALONE 2	Channel One	02.01.2020	19.07	5.11

Film title	SON OF A RICH
TV channel	Rossiya 1
Broadcast date	04.11.2020
Rating, %	26.22
Share, %	7.93

Film title	IVAN VASILIEVICH: BACK TO THE FUTURE
TV channel	Rossiya 1
Broadcast date	31.12.2020
Rating, %	20.07
Share, %	7.68

Film title	T-34
TV channel	Rossiya 1
Broadcast date	09.05.2020
Rating, %	26.71
Share, %	6.96

Film title	LOVE AND DOVES
TV channel	Channel One
Broadcast date	31.12.2020
Rating, %	19.8
Share, %	6.64

Film title	KIDNAPPING CAUCASSIAN STYLE, OR SHURIK’S NEW ADVENTURES
TV channel	Rossiya 1
Broadcast date	31.12.2020
Rating, %	17.66
Share, %	6.45

Film title	THE LAST WARRIOR
TV channel	Rossiya 1
Broadcast date	01.01.2020
Rating, %	17.75
Share, %	6.31

Film title	ONLY OLD MEN ARE GOING TO BATTLE
TV channel	Channel One
Broadcast date	09.05.2020
Rating, %	21.17
Share, %	6.2

Film title	THE IRONY OF FATE, OR ENJOY YOUR BATH!
TV channel	Channel One
Broadcast date	31.12.2020
Rating, %	15.7
Share, %	5.87

Film title	GENTLEMEN OF FORTUNE
TV channel	Channel One
Broadcast date	31.12.2020
Rating, %	17.74
Share, %	5.38

#10

Film title	HOME ALONE 2
TV channel	Channel One
Broadcast date	02.01.2020
Rating, %	19.07
Share, %	5.11

Source: Mediascope

Top 5: Most popular TV series on national TV in 2020 in the 14-44 age group in cities with a population of 100,000+ on the basis of the average rating for all episodes

№	Project	TV channel	Number of episodes	Rating, %	Share, %
1	Olga (season 4)	TNT	17	3.7	19.6
2	Ivanko	TNT	17	3.5	16.7
3	Patriot	TNT	17	3.1	14.6
4	Papik	CTC	16	3.0	15.9
5	Pereval Dyatlova	TNT	8	3.0	16.0

Project	Olga (season 4)
TV channel	TNT
Number of episodes	17
Rating, %	3.7
Share, %	19.6

Project	Ivanko
TV channel	TNT
Number of episodes	17
Rating, %	3.5
Share, %	16.7

Project	Patriot
TV channel	TNT
Number of episodes	17
Rating, %	3.1
Share, %	14.6

Project	Papik
TV channel	CTC
Number of episodes	16
Rating, %	3.0
Share, %	15.9

Project	Pereval Dyatlova
TV channel	TNT
Number of episodes	8
Rating, %	3.0
Share, %	16.0

Source: Mediascope

Top 5: Most popular TV series on national TV in 2020 in the 4+ age group in cities with a population of 100,000+ on the basis of the average rating for all episodes

№	Project	TV channel	Number of episodes	Rating, %	Share, %
1	Zuleikha Opens Her Eyes	Rossiya 1	8	6.4	20.0
2	Ferrywoman	Rossiya 1	16	6.0	19.1
3	Magomayev	Channel One	8	4.8	16.5
4	Kazanova	Channel One	8	4.8	16.2
5	Spasskaya	Rossiya 1	8	4.7	18.7

Project	Zuleikha Opens Her Eyes
TV channel	Rossiya 1
Number of episodes	8
Rating, %	6.4
Share, %	20.0

Project	Ferrywoman
TV channel	Rossiya 1
Number of episodes	16
Rating, %	6.0
Share, %	19.1

Project	Magomayev
TV channel	Channel One
Number of episodes	8
Rating, %	4.8
Share, %	16.5

Project	Kazanova
TV channel	Channel One
Number of episodes	8
Rating, %	4.8
Share, %	16.2

Project	Spasskaya
TV channel	Rossiya 1
Number of episodes	8
Rating, %	4.7
Share, %	18.7

Source: Mediascope

Pay TV

Pay TV is the second most widespread delivery method for audiovisual content in Russia. Unlike free-to-air television, pay TV services are provided for a subscription fee. Content is delivered through three different technologies: cable TV (40% of subscribers in 2020), satellite TV (38% of subscribers in 2020) and IPTV (22% of subscribers in 2020).

In 2020, pay TV subscriber base grew by 1.8%, to 46.2 million households (according to TMT Consult).

By the end of 2020, pay TV penetration rate exceeded 81.5%. Operators’ revenue grew by 2%.

Pay TV channels’ average revenue per user (ARPU) is $2.6 a month.

Russia’s pay TV scene is dominated by five main operators, which account for 75% of the market: Tricolor (27% of subscribers), Rostelecom (23% of subscribers), MTS (9% of subscribers), ER-Telecom (8% of subscribers) and Orion (7% of subscribers).