What is the appropriate length of a movie? graph of japanese statisticsAeon Cinema, a cinema operator, recently released the results of a survey into cinema-going habits.

Demographics

Between the 17th and 19th of January 2014 1,204 members of the public from all over Japan completed an internet questionnaire, although it is not specified how the sample was selected. 50.2% of the sample were male, 19.9% in their twenties, 19.9% in their thirties, 19.9% in their forties, 20.0% in their fifties, and 20.1% aged sixty or older.

Last year I probably managed about six or so movies, mostly western human drama stories. I find action and SF movies these days a bit too loud and intense; the one I went to last year was Total Recall, which was pretty atrocious.

From this summer, though, I qualify for the old folks discount at my usual chain, so perhaps I’ll be seeing more movies in the second half of the year? For the first half, I want to see Rush and The Hobbit part two, both of which are not out here yet.

Research results

Q1: Last year, 2013, how many times did you watch a movie at a cinema? (Sample size=1,204)

Never 57.8%
Once to thrice 28.2%
Four to eight times 9.1%
Nine to eleven times 1.8%
Twelve or more times 3.2%

Q2: What was the main reason why you didn’t watch more (any) movies at a cinema last year? (Sample size=1,204)

  All Didn’t attend any movies
No films I wanted to see 14.5% 25.0%
Didn’t have time to visit the cinema 14.2% 24.6%
Not interested in movies 11.1% 19.3%
No cinemas close at hand 8.2% 14.2%
No-one to go with 3.5% 6.0%
Not interested in, hate cinemas 1.7% 2.9%
Other 4.7% 8.0%
No reason 42.2%

Q3: Who did you go to the cinema with last year? (Sample size=movie goers, multiple answer)

By myself 33.5%
With friends 13.9%
With boyfriend, girlfriend 5.4%
With spouse 26.3%
With children, family 20.0%
Other 0.9%

Q4: Which genres of movies did you go to see last year? (Sample size=1,204, multiple answer)

  First Second Third
Twenties Domestic animation (30.4%) Western SF, action (22.9%) Domestic human drama (20.0%)
Thirties Domestic animation (18.3%) Western SF, action (13.8%) Domestic human drama (7.1%)
Forties Domestic human drama (18.3%) Western SF, action (15.8%) Domestic animation (13.3%)
Fifties Domestic human drama (20.7%) Western SF, action (19.5%) Western human drama (13.7%)
Sixties plus Domestic human drama (18.1%) Western SF, action (14.0%) Western human drama (13.6%)

Note that the 57.8% who didn’t go to the cinema last year were included in the calculations.

Q5: What is the appropriate length of a movie? (Sample size=1,204)

Less than an hour 1.4%
One to one and a half hours 12.0%
One and a half to two hours 55.1%
Two to two and a half hours 28.7%
Two and a half to three hours 2.2%
More than three hours 0.6%

4 Comments

Celluloid Junkie » Daily Cinema Digest – Tuesday 11 February 2014 · February 11, 2014 at 19:18

[…] … most people couldn’t give a reason. They just did not care. Moreover, most people who went did so by themselves. The most popular genre was Japanese animation. Deeply troubling if you consider that Japan is where most Western countries are headed in terms of the demographics curve. Link. […]

Links for February 17th, 2014 | Shimane PA Resources · February 17, 2014 at 11:51

[…] Japanese People’s Cinema Going Habits […]

Weekly Links – 12 Week Report | Shimane PA Resources · March 12, 2014 at 11:54

[…] Japanese People’s Cinema Going Habits […]

Daily Cinema Digest - Tuesday 11 February 2014 - Celluloid Junkie · January 27, 2016 at 08:57

[…] … most people couldn’t give a reason. They just did not care. Moreover, most people who went did so by themselves. The most popular genre was Japanese animation. Deeply troubling if you consider that Japan is where most Western countries are headed in terms of the demographics curve. Link. […]

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