Top 10 Film Industries In The World (2024)

The film industry is a thriving and ever-evolving field that has a significant impact on popular culture and entertainment. It is a global phenomenon that encompasses various styles, genres, and cultures. There are many film industries around the world that produce a diverse range of content and have a significant impact on the global film market. In this article, we will take a look at the top 10 film industries in the world, based on their production output, revenue, and cultural influence. From Bollywood to Hollywood, these film industries have made an indelible mark on the entertainment industry and continue to shape the way we consume and experience films.

  • The Hollywood Movie Industry
  • The Bollywood Film Industry
  • Chinese Cinema
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain
  • Japanese Cinema
  • Cinema in South Korea
  • France Cinema
  • German Cinema
  • Australian Cinema
  • Mexico’s Cinema

The Hollywood Movie Industry

The Hollywood film industry is the largest and most powerful film industry in the world, producing some of the highest-grossing and most popular movies. It is based in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California and is known for its big budgets, star-studded casts, and use of advanced technology and special effects. Hollywood movies are widely distributed and shown in theaters and on television around the globe.

In 2020, the film business in the United States and Canada, of which Hollywood is a major part, generated a revenue of $21.3 billion. This made it the most profitable sector globally, surpassing other film industries in countries such as India and China.

Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Hollywood continued to experience growth in 2021. The US and Canada film industry saw an increase in revenue, and Hollywood accounted for a significant portion of this growth. According to industry data, 80.5% of the total growth in the US and Canada film industry in 2021 was attributed to Hollywood. This highlights the resilience and enduring popularity of Hollywood movies even in the face of a global crisis.

The Bollywood Film Industry

Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai, India. This industry produces a large number of films each year, and is known for its elaborate song and dance routines, as well as its larger-than-life storylines. Bollywood films often explore themes such as love, family, relationships, and social issues.

They also often incorporate elements of fantasy and mythology, and are known for their colorful and glamorous production values. Bollywood films are widely popular in India and around the world, particularly among the Indian diaspora. The industry is also known for its actors and actresses, many of whom have become major stars and cultural icons in India and abroad. The term Bollywood is a portmanteau of Bombay (the city now known as Mumbai) and Hollywood, the center of the American film industry.

Chinese Cinema

The Chinese film industry is renowned for producing high-quality films that are recognized worldwide, with an annual box office of 6.78 billion dollars, coming in second only to Hollywood. The Chinese film industry has been growing at an average rate of 35% per year over the last decade, with a slight decrease in growth at 3.7% in 2016 as compared to 48% in 2015. In 2016, Hollywood had stronger performance in China, accounting for 41.7% of total box office receipts. Hengdian World Studios is one of the most well-known film studios in China.

United Kingdom of Great Britain

The United Kingdom has been known for producing some of the finest films in recent years, with a total box office of $1.9 billion. The film industry in the United Kingdom generated $6.5 billion in 2016, which is significantly less than in China. The government provides support to the sector, including tax incentives for film production. Pinewood Studios is one of the most renowned film studios in the United Kingdom. In 2016, the film industry spent an estimated $2.04 billion on production.

In 2009, British films generated $2 billion worldwide, with a market share of 7% internationally and 17% in the United Kingdom. In 2012, the UK box office saw £1.1 billion in revenue, with 172.5 million admissions. The UK film industry earned around $6.65 billion in revenue in 2016, making it the highest-grossing film industry in Europe, but still significantly lower than China’s. The government offers assistance to filmmakers through tax reductions in film production, to help the film industry create and generate more revenue and profits. Pinewood Studios is a well-known and famous film studio in the United Kingdom. The film industry spent an estimated $2.04 billion on production in 2017.

Japanese Cinema

Japan’s film industry, with $1.8 billion in box office receipts in 2015, is one of the largest in Asia. In 2016, the Japanese film industry generated almost $2 billion in revenue. Japan was the leading film producer in Asia until 2012, when a stagnant sector due to poor economic development and high production costs was eventually overtaken by China. There were 610 films produced in the industry, with 180.2 million people attending. Films from other countries accounted for 36.9% while films made in the United States accounted for 63.1%. Japan’s cinema industry is one of the oldest in the world, having begun production in the late 1800s.

The Japanese film industry is nearly a century old and has been producing films since the late 1800s. Slow economic development and the high cost of film production led to a stagnation of the industry in Japan, which produced 411 feature films. They were the top in Asia in film production until 2012. In 2016, the film industry in Japan generated almost $2 billion in revenue. Japan has 3,472 movie theaters and has produced 610 films with 180.2 million admissions.

Cinema in South Korea

The South Korean film industry has a total revenue of approximately $1.7 billion, making it the fifth-largest film industry in the world. Established in 1945, it has grown to become a major player in the global film industry, introducing the world to unique genres such as K-pop and Korean horror. The South Korean film industry has come a long way since its establishment.

South Korea has the highest per capita cinema attendance in the world. The industry has seen significant growth since its beginnings. In 1998, there were approximately 500 single-screen theaters with ticket sales of around 50 million. By 2016, ticket sales had risen to 217 million, with over 2,400 multiplex theaters. In 2016, the South Korean film industry generated $1.5 billion in revenue, ranking it as the seventh-largest film industry in the world.

South Korean Cinema enjoyed a “Golden Age” period from the late 1950s through the 1960s, but by the 1970s, it was widely considered to be of low quality. However, due to legislation limiting the number of foreign films shown in theaters each year, South Korea became one of the few countries in 2005 to have more domestic films shown in cinemas than foreign films. In 2006, Korean films were shown in cinemas for 73 days. South Korean Cinema is the seventh-largest film industry in terms of revenue. The number of movie ticket sales reached 217 million in 2016, and there are more than 2,400 multiplex theaters throughout the country. In 2016, it generated over $1.5 billion in revenue and was the country with the highest per capita cinema attendance in the world.

France Cinema

The French film industry, which dates back to 1895, is one of the oldest in the world. It currently generates $1.4 billion per year, making it the seventh-largest film industry. France is considered the birthplace of cinema and has made significant contributions to the industry. It is the world’s third-largest nation in terms of film submissions each year. The French people have a strong love for cinema, with 2113 million theater trips in 2015, making them the nation with the highest cinema attendance in Europe and the world’s sixth-largest movie market in terms of ticket sales. In 2016, France’s film industry generated roughly $1.6 billion.

The French film industry, also known as “French cinema,” includes creative films and cinematic art created in France or by French filmmakers working abroad. France is considered the “birthplace of cinema” and has made significant contributions to the film industry. The French government provides protection to the industry, making it known for its strong and creative cinema culture. Also its powerful film industry, France has long been a gathering place for artists from all over Europe and the world.

German Cinema

The history of German Cinema can be traced back to 1895, when short films were first produced. After World War I, the German film industry grew in practical terms. However, it has gone through many ups and downs throughout the years. Between 1960 and 1980, the industry experienced a decline period as local television was launched and people were captivated by it. This had a significant impact on film production as the audience shrank. However, the industry has seen growth again in the 1980s and in 2016, the German film industry generated roughly $1.04 billion in revenue, making it the eighth-largest film industry in the world.

German Cinema, as it is known, has made significant technological and aesthetic contributions to the film industry between 1918 and 1933. The German film industry has seen many fluctuations throughout the years. In 2016, it generated roughly $1.04 billion in income, making it the eighth-largest film industry in terms of revenue.

Australian Cinema

Australia’s film industry generated roughly $0.6 billion in revenue in 2016, making it the ninth-largest film industry in the world in terms of revenue. The Australian film industry was established in 1906 and has produced several films since then. However, the industry is known for its unstable nature and is considered a “boom and bust” industry. Many actors and directors have started their careers in Australian films, and some have gone on to become well-known and have an international reputation in the industry.

The Australian film industry has existed since 1980, but due to its unstable nature, it has been labeled as a “boom and bust” industry. Despite producing a large number of films, the Australian film industry is still unable to compete with the American film industry. In 2016, the Australian film industry generated around $0.6 billion in revenue.

Mexico’s Cinema

Cinema in Mexico has a long and rich history, dating back to the late 19th century. The Mexican film industry, also known as the “Mexican Hollywood,” has produced a wide variety of films, from silent movies to contemporary works, and has been a major player in the Latin American film industry.

Mexican cinema has been recognized for its artistic and technical quality, as well as its ability to reflect the country’s social and political issues. Throughout its history, Mexican cinema has produced a number of influential and critically acclaimed films, such as “The Revolution According to Raymundo Gleyzer” (1976), “El Callejón de los Milagros” (1995) and “Amores perros” (2000).

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Top 10 Film Industries In The World (2024)

FAQs

What are the biggest film industries in the world? ›

List of Top 10 Largest Film Industries in the World
RankFilm IndustryCountry
1HollywoodUSA
2BollywoodIndia
3NollywoodNigeria
4Cinema of ChinaChina
6 more rows
Mar 6, 2024

Which country has the best film industry in the world? ›

United States. The cinema of the United States, often generally referred to as Hollywood, has had a profound effect on cinema across the world since the early 20th century. The United States cinema (Hollywood) is the oldest film industry in the world and also the largest film industry in terms of revenue.

What are the top 5 film industries in the world Wikipedia? ›

Current
Studio parent (conglomerate)Major film studio unit Secondary studio
Warner Bros. Entertainment (Warner Bros. Discovery)Warner Bros. Pictures New Line Cinema
Walt Disney Studios (The Walt Disney Company)Walt Disney Pictures 20th Century Studios
Sony Pictures (Sony Group Corporation)Columbia Pictures TriStar Pictures
2 more rows

What is the oldest film industry in the world? ›

Hollywood is the oldest film industry of the world, and the largest in terms of box office gross revenue.

What is the #1 movie in the world? ›

All Time Worldwide Box Office
RankYearMovie
12009Avatar
22019Avengers: Endgame
32022Avatar: The Way of Water
41997Titanic
76 more rows

Is Nollywood bigger than Hollywood? ›

What is Nollywood? The Nigerian film industry, known as Nollywood, is the second-largest in the world in terms of output, turning out over 2,500 movies each year. This amount tops Hollywood and is only surpassed by Bollywood in India.

Which is the biggest film city in the world? ›

Ramoji Film City is an integrated film studio facility located in Abdullahpurmet, Hyderabad, India. Spread over 1,666 acres (674 ha), it is the largest film studio complex in the world and as such has been certified by the Guinness World Records.

What is the most valuable film industry in the world? ›

Hollywood. World's largest and famous film industry with a value of more than $808 billion.

Which country watches the most movies? ›

Did you know that Korea has the world's highest average number of cinema attendance per capita? In 2019, Koreans watched an average of 4.37 movies a year. They love watching movies! The value dropped to 1.15 movies in 2020 due to the pandemic.

Who are the big six in the film industry? ›

The largest film distributors in the United States – Disney, Paramount, Sony, Universal, and Warner Bros. – are collectively known as the "Big Five." The group was referred to as the "Big Six" when it included 20th Century Fox, acquired by Disney at the end of the 2010s.

Who is second largest film industry? ›

The Nigerian Film Industry (Nollywood) is globally recognised as the second largest film producer in the world.

What is the number 1 highest-grossing movie? ›

Avatar (2009)

James Cameron's sci-fi fantasy epic “Avatar” smashed records and remains the reigning box office champion.

Who is the boss of world film industry? ›

The world film industry does not have a single boss or governing authority. It is a vast and diverse industry with multiple stakeholders, including filmmakers, producers, distributors, studios, and various organizations and institutions.

What was the 1st movie ever made? ›

The First Movie ever made is Roundhay Garden Scene (1888) The world's earliest surviving motion-picture film, showing actual consecutive action is called Roundhay Garden Scene. It's a short film directed by French inventor Louis Le Prince. While it's just 2.11 seconds long, It is technically a movie.

What is the longest film ever? ›

The longest film ever made, according to Guinness World Records, is "The Cure for Insomnia" (1987), directed by John Henry Timmis IV. It lasts 85 hours and is considered an extraordinary achievement in the film industry.

What are the top film markets? ›

Examples of top film markets include the American Film Market (AFM – Los Angeles); European Film Market (EFM - Berlin); Marche Du Film (Cannes). The Cannes Film Festival, also known as Festival de Cannes, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France.

What is the third biggest movie industry in the world? ›

China is third, with a global share of 7%, and Japan is fourth, with 6%. In terms of middle- and low-income economies Mexico, Argentina, the Russian Federation, Brazil, Iran, Indonesia and the Philippines, by order of number of films produced, make the list of top 20 film producing economies worldwide in 2021.

What city has the biggest film industry? ›

It might come as no surprise that the home of Hollywood is the setting for most movies, with 543 films shot in Los Angeles.

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