This study analyses cinema exhibition in France, that is, the companies that sell tickets, concessions and advertising, rent films from distributors and pay a tax to the Centre national du cinéma. It starts from the two benchmark measures: 156,2 million admissions and 1 158,1 million euros of box-office revenue in 2025 in mainland France, a low point excluding the crisis years, followed by a strong estimated rebound in 2026. It explains why a record cinema estate of 6 401 screens runs at a seat occupancy rate of 10,5 %, and why the decline stems less from the number of cinemagoers than from their frequency of visits. It examines the weight of major hits, revenue per admission, unlimited passes, premium screens and advertising, then how each ticket is shared: the exhibitor keeps 40,8 % of the revenue in 2025. It presents the cinema chains and their ownership, including Pathé, UGC and CGR, which account for 43,1 % of admissions, as well as independent cinemas, art-house cinemas and CNC s
