Paris, January 23 – UGC Ciné Cité Les Halles, located in the heart of Paris, has once again claimed the title of the world’s most frequented cinema. In 2025, the multiplex attracted an impressive 2,599,667 spectators, surpassing major cinemas in the United States and Asia for the third consecutive year.
Resilience Amidst Declining National Attendance
Despite a 14% decrease in overall French cinema attendance, UGC Ciné Cité Les Halles experienced only a modest 2.9% dip compared to 2024, demonstrating exceptional audience loyalty. This achievement underscores its unique appeal and strategic operational model.
Three Decades of Cinematic Excellence
The year 2025 also marks the 30th anniversary of the multiplex. Inaugurated in 1995, the cinema occupies the former site of the Cousteau Oceanic Park, which closed in 1992, and a previous six-screen Forum Horizons rock and cinema museum. Initially featuring 15 screens, the complex has expanded to 27 screens, offering over 3,800 seats and an eclectic program of more than 500 films annually.
“We are the only ones to offer such diversity, with films from 65 nationalities,” stated Patrice Le Marchand, the multiplex director, who began his career as a reception agent at the same location. Since 2015, the cinema has consistently welcomed nearly 3 million spectators per year, solidifying its global leadership ahead of Lotte Cinema World in Seoul and AMC Empire 25 in New York.
The Iconic “9 AM at Les Halles” Screening
A distinctive feature of UGC Ciné Cité Les Halles is its 9 AM Wednesday morning screening, the earliest in France, with other cinemas typically opening at 10 or 11 AM. This slot is dedicated to all new film releases of the week, serving as a traditional meeting point for distributors’ teams over breakfast. It has become an institution for gauging the week’s cinematic pulse and a cherished ritual for early-bird moviegoers.
A Formula for Unparalleled Success
The enduring success of UGC Ciné Cité Les Halles is attributed to a unique blend of strategic location, diverse programming, and pioneering vision. Situated within the Forum des Halles, one of Paris’s largest shopping centers, and accessible via the world’s largest underground train station, the multiplex benefits from ideal accessibility that draws a loyal, cosmopolitan, and curious audience.
With its 27 screens and screenings running from 9 AM to midnight, it offers a highly diversified selection, including classic films, new releases, original versions (VO) and original versions with French subtitles (VOSTF), as well as exclusive previews. Since 1995, UGC Les Halles has championed the concept of a “mass cine-club,” betting on a rich and varied program that balances blockbusters with art-house cinema.
Contrary to popular belief, it is primarily art-house films that drive its attendance. Out of the 714 films screened in 2025, 370 were art-house, programmed across 30,400 screenings, accounting for over 1.2 million admissions, or 48% of the total. This makes UGC Les Halles the leading art-house cinema in France, despite its lack of official classification. This diverse programming strategy allows it to remain resilient against fluctuations in attendance and establish itself as a benchmark for box office performance in France, reaffirming the vitality of French cinema, now the third-largest market globally, behind the United States and China. UGC Ciné Cité Les Halles has, over time, become a symbol of French cinema, capable of captivating both local audiences and international spectators.
UGC Ciné Cité Les Halles is located at 7 Place de la Rotonde, 75001 Paris.
Source: https://www.pariszigzag.fr/paris-au-quotidien/actualites-paris/cinema-ugc-les-halles/
