POLOKWANE – The year 2020 was a difficult one for all sectors, none more so than the film industry.
According to the National Film and Video Foundation’s recently released 2020 report, which is compiled bi-annually, the nationwide lockdown as a result of Covid-19 had a significant impact on the performance of theatrical films as their lifespan on circuit was cut short.
The report analyses films released in South Africa between January to March 2020 and August to December 2020.
Here’s what they found:
The year started strongly, with January 2020 recording R86,9 million compared to R32,2 million in 2019. In February and March 2020, figures began to decline as the news about the pandemic was spreading. For the entirety of April – June 2020, there were no figures recorded as cinemas were closed at that time.
The report indicates that 96 titles were released in South Africa in 2020, which is a significant decline from 190 titles released in 2019.
“The total gross box office for 2020 amounted to R214 million, a decline from R1 225 million generated in 2019,” it adds.
Top films in SA’s Box Office in 2020:
“The highest-grossing film in 2020 was Bad Boys for Life, an action/comedy/crime film, with earnings over R51, 5 million in total. The film did exceptionally well, given the crisis that we
are faced with globally,” the report reads.
The second highest-earning film was the animation; The Croods: A New Age, which earned R12,5 million in box office revenues.
The film Dolittle was the third highest-grossing film and earned R11,1 million in box office revenues.
South African produced films
The report indicates that 2020 was the worst performing year for South Africa, and cites the closure of cinemas due to the Covid-19 pandemic as a result in revenue losses.
The Afrikaans film, Vergeet My Nie, was the best performer of South African produced films, with a cumulative gross box office revenue of more than R3 million.
