December Is the Biggest Moment for the Cinema Economy
By Aramide Pearce, Public Relations and Communications Executive, Filmhouse Group The Christmas holiday season consistently delivers the year’s highest cinema attendance, here’s what fuels the surge. It’s the most wonderful time of the year! December cheer is in the air and the festive spirit is in full swing. This month is one of the biggest windows for movie releases worldwide. Research on cinema attendance consistently shows that audience engagement rises during the holiday season. Films released in December often outperform other months in terms of ticket sales which is driven by families seeking entertainment during school breaks, couples and groups looking for shared experiences and the general uplift in spending during the festive period. Globally, December and holiday-season releases have historically delivered some of the highest box-office grosses of the year. Classics like Home Alone (1990) and How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) achieved massive domestic and international revenue, while more recent releases such as The Grinch (2018) continue the trend. In 2025, industry analysis shows that December remains one of the highest-grossing months across multiple markets. These films benefit not only from initial excitement but also from sustained word-of-mouth, as audiences seek shared experiences during the holiday period. Families on school break, groups of friends, and couples looking for feel-good entertainment make cinema outings a popular choice, and festive-themed marketing further reinforces this trend. The social and emotional context of the holidays makes movie-going particularly attractive, creating an ideal window for engaging audiences. Kicking off the festive season on Friday 5th December was Wale Ojo’s “This Is Not a Nollywood Movie.” As the first Nollywood release of December, it set the tone for a month of exciting cinema experiences, benefiting from holiday audiences seeking family outings, shared experiences, and feel-good entertainment. Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes (BTS), releasing on Friday 12th December is a prime example of tapping into that festive spirit. Films like this not only benefit from initial excitement but also from extended word-of-mouth during the weeks between Christmas and New Year, as families and friends gather, discuss, and recommend movies to one another. Box office analysis shows that holiday films often maintain strong cinema runs well beyond opening weekends, maximizing both revenue and audience engagement. Toyin Abraham’s Over Sabi Aunty releasing on Friday 19th continues our December momentum. Hollywood is also coming in strong this season with major global blockbusters that will amplify the festive excitement. On Friday 19th December, Avatar: Fire & Ash arrives as one of the biggest worldwide releases of the year. Niyi Akinmolayan’s Colors Of Fire releasing on Thursday 24th December (Christmas Eve) further strengthens our holiday lineup. With family-friendly appeal and festive themes, it’s designed to engage audiences in one of the busiest cinema periods of the year. Following closely are two family-friendly titles on Thursday 26th December (Boxing Day) Anaconda and The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants both positioned to take advantage of the massive post-Christmas cinema rush. For us, December isn’t just another month, it is a strategic opportunity to reach audiences when they are most excited to go to the movies. By further leveraging the festive spirit, family gatherings and heightened leisure activity we position our films for maximum impact. This year, the festive season is shaping up to be truly unforgettable and we have a slate that is set to capture all the excitement.