The spectacular success of Se Eu Fosse Voce 2 and other local titles helped drive ticket sales in the first six months of 2009 to $244.8m in Brazil, an increase of 34.6% from the same period last year while admissions rose 31.1% from 42.2m in 2008 to 55.4m this year.

The figures were unveiled this week by Filme B, a local film company that reviews theatrical market data.

Led by Daniel Filho’s Se Eu Fosse Você 2, the sequel to the 2006 romantic comedy hit, Brazilian films achieved a dramatically higher market share, of 19,4%  – as opposed to 8.3% last year. Domestic productions were seen by 10.7m people (up 206.3% from January-June 2008).

With a gross of $ 245m (R$ 47.5m), from  5.7m tickets sold, Se Eu Fosse Você 2 is number one in so far this year, surpassing Hollywood titles such as Angels & Demons and X-Men Origins:Wolverine. Two other Brazilian movies, Jose Alvarenga Jr’s Divã and Claudio Torres’ Mulher Invisível, also appear on the chart, placed seventh, with 1.8m admissions, and ninth, with 1.3m admissions, respectively. Last year the only local film to make the top ten was Meu Nome Nao E Johnny, ranked fourth, seen by 2m spectators.

Top 10 Brazil - first half 2009 (in revenues)

1 Se Eu Fosse Você 2 (Fox) $24.5m (R$ 47.5m)

2 Angels & Demons (Sony) $14.2m (R$ 27.6m)

3 X-Men Origins: Wolverine (Fox) $14.1m (R$ 27.3m)

4 Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (Fox) $10.5m (RS 20.5m)

5 Fast & Furious 4 (Universal) $10.2m (R$ 19.9m)

6 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Warner) $9.6m (R$ 18.6m)

7 Divã (Downtown Filmes) $8.4m (R$ 16.3m)

8 Monsters vs Aliens (Paramount) $6.9m (R$ 13.5m)

9 A Mulher Invisivel (Warner) $6.7m (R$ 13m)

10 Slumgdog Millionaire (Europa) $6.6m (RS$ 12.8m)

Source: SDRJ and Filme B (figures up to June, 28th)

Topics