Russian Association of Cinema Owners chairman Alexey Voronkov told National News Service that domestic movie theaters still rely on foreign films to survive during the summer off-season. Russian cinemas show no more than 10 percent of the foreign content screened globally, making the share of foreign movies unnoticeable overall.
Voronkov said domestic content generates the main box office revenue during the peak season from October to April. However, summer releases remain scarce, with only two blockbusters, Kholop 3 and The Last Warrior. Kolobok, scheduled for summer 2026, and no major domestic project in July.
He explained that removing all foreign content right now would force cinemas to operate for six months and close for the remaining six months. The Association of Cinema Owners has spent three years attempting to address the issue through proposed legislation on forced licensing or the transfer of rights for foreign content that lacks a copyright holder in Russia.
State Regulations and Penalties
Voronkov stated that Russian domestic film production could fully replace foreign content within two to three years, but off-season theaters cannot yet reach break-even points on their own. During the New Year holidays, when enough domestic films are available, cinemas voluntarily refrain from showing foreign titles.
He added that the state holds all leverage over movie theaters, enforcing laws and fining operators for unlicensed screenings. Fines for errors in the Unified Automated System can reach up to 4 percent of annual turnover in an industry that generates 50 billion rubles a year. Voronkov noted that fines of this scale do not exist even for oil cartels.
Domestic Release Controversies
The distributor Atmosphere Cinema previously recommended that Russian theaters delay the release of a new Marvel film starring Tom Holland and Zendaya until August 20 to support the opening of The Last Warrior. Kolobok. The recommendation sparked social media criticism and led users to slash the Russian film's online ratings before its premiere.
Despite the backlash, Radiotochka NSN reported that The Last Warrior. Kolobok earned nearly 54 million rubles on its first day of release. Total box office receipts for the film have reached 72.8 million rubles.
