🎫 Ministry of Culture forecasts record-breaking box office for Russian cinema
Russian cinema is bracing for a new financial surge. According to the official declaration of goals and objectives from the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, the box office revenue for domestic films is projected to grow by 7.7% in 2026, reaching a milestone of 42 billion rubles.
The Ministry expects cinema attendance to hit 101 million people, up from 93.7 million in 2025.
The market share of domestic films continues to dominate the industry. For context, in 2025, Russian cinema accounted for 77% of the total box office, representing a phenomenal 215.9% increase compared to 2022. Out of the 260 Russian features released last year, nearly 100 were produced with state support.
The success of 2026 will be driven by both current hits—such as “Buratino” and “The Kid”—and highly anticipated blockbusters. The list of the most promising upcoming releases includes:
- “Angels of Ladoga”
- “Smeshariki: Through the Universes”
- “Lukomorye”
- “Pearl”
Beyond the numbers, the Ministry of Culture will focus on legal regulation. A new bill is in development that will allow the Ministry to formally designate priority themes for state funding. This move is designed to tighten control over which stories receive budget support and the extent of that financing.
Source: Telesputnik
