I Remember You and  Under the Tree drove market share to a record 11.2%, compared to 6.6% in 2016.

The local thriller I Remember You and drama Under the Tree drove cinema attendance and pushed domestic films’ BO market share to a record 11.2%, compared to 6.6% in 2016.

This is the first time since film statistics started in Iceland that two Icelandic films are the biggest film hits of the year, and fourth consecutive year that an Icelandic director take the top of the film chart, a ‘particularly positive’ sign for the Icelandic film industry, says Hallgrimur Kristinsson, head of the cinema association FRISK.

Oskar Thór Axelsson’s I Remember You posted an estimated gross of ISK 76.5 million from 47,368 admissions, and Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurdsson’s Under the Tree ISK 67.7 million from 42,427 admissions. A third Icelandic film released by Sena: Guđmundur Arnar Guđmundsson’s Heartstone took the 11th slot with ISK 34.4 million from 22,684 admissions.

A total of 17 Icelandic films premiered in 2017, against 15 in 2016; the most popular Icelandic documentary was Baldvin Z’s Beyond Strength with 2,200 admissions.

US films accounted for 85% of the market in revenue terms, and 87% in cinema attendance. Star Wars: The Last Jedi was the biggest foreign film of the year, despite its end of year release and had the most admissions of 2017, 50,645, for a ISK 67,5 million gross.

The most popular Nordic film was the Norwegian animated film In the Forest of Huckybucky (11,027 admissions) followed by the Swedish Palme d’or The Square (2,252 admissions). The total estimated gross from all new 172 films on screens reached ISK 1.688 billion, on par with 2016’s ISK 1.689 billion, and with more than 4 cinema visits a year, Icelanders continue to be among the most avid filmgoers in the world.

2018 looks promising with a wide variety of upcoming Icelandic films such as the anticipated animated film Ploey, You Never Fly Alone by Árni Ólafur Ásgeirsson (February 2), the Sundance competition entry And Breathe Normally by newcomer Ísold Uggadóttir (February 9), Anton Sigurdsson’s Fullir vasar (February 23), as well as the family football film The Falcons by Bragi Þór Hinriksson, Mihkel by Ari Alexander Ergis Magnússon, Let Me Fall by Baldvin Z and A Woman at War by Benedikt Erlingsson. 

To see the Icelandic Admissions charts CLICK HERE.