376 films in 2024 certify the success of Spain Audiovisual Hub

The third annual report on the audiovisual sector in Spain, an initiative of the Spain Audiovisual Hub (Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Service), confirms that the film production objectives set by the government have been widely exceeded: although the Government's goal was to increase production by 30% compared to 2020, in 2024 376 feature films were produced, an increase of 69.37%.

The third Annual report of the audiovisual sector in Spain 2025, after those prepared in 2024 and 2023, offers a detailed analysis of the Spanish audiovisual industry (cinema, television, OTT video, advertising, video games, esports, animation, metaverse, extended reality and sustainability), in a context of strong transformation and economic growth between 2021 and 2024, promoted by the Spain Audiovisual Hub Plan of Europe and European funds.

Each subsector is studied in detail, highlighting both the recovery after the pandemic and the challenges of financing, digitalization and internationalization. The report highlights the expansion of cinema, animation and international co-productions, the consolidation of television fiction, the leadership of the OTT market and the advance of the video game industry, esports and XR, in addition to the growing importance of sustainability and gender equality throughout the ecosystem.

The document combines a own survey, official data, sectoral reports, white papers and international comparative analysis, with the aim of showing trends, anticipating future scenarios and guiding industry strategies. In this way, it reflects not only the solidity and modernization of the Spanish audiovisual industry, but also its role as an economic and cultural engine with international projection, supported by public policies, sectoral collaboration and a growing commitment to innovation, diversity and sustainability.

Consolidation of Spain as a cinematographic engine

Spanish cinema has experienced a solid recovery after the pandemic. From 2021 to 2024, box office revenues almost duplicated, going from 251.9 million in 2021 to 484.6 million in 2024. National production also expanded, with 289 feature films and short films in 2024 and an uptick in international co-productions.

The recovery of attendance at cinemas in Spain has already reached 75 %, which places the country in fifth place in Europe in terms of box office revenue, with a collection of 509 million euros in 2024. With respect to the number of spectators, Spain is positioned as the fourth country with the highest attendance at theaters, with 73 million viewers in 2024, below France, United Kingdom and Germany, which registered 181.3 million, 126.5 million and 80.9 million, respectively.

In 2020 there were 222 feature films (entirely Spanish and co-produced) and 419 short films. The Government's goal was to increase production by 30% until 2025, an objective that Spain has largely surpassed: the number of feature films produced in 2024 was 376, an increase of 69.37% compared to 2020. This figure represents the highest volume of the 2013–2024 period and confirms the consolidation of productive activity after the slowdown experienced in 2020. Regarding short films, in 2024 there were 652 in our country, 55.6% more than in 2020.

In 2023, Spain will be ranked as the second European country in film production with 337 titles, only behind Italy (356) and ahead of France (268). This evolution reinforces the trend observed since 2021, when Spain surpassed France for the first time and maintained that advantage in subsequent years. Between 2021 and 2023, the availability of Spanish productions on the main streaming platforms increased by 22%.

With regards to the animation and VFX, turnover exceeded 600 million in 2023. The production of feature films doubled and employment reached 5,806 professionals, with a high concentration in Madrid and Catalonia. Despite an adjustment in 2023, the sector maintains strong potential thanks to digitalization and the support of the ICAA, whose budget has almost doubled in three years.

Television and OTT, two interrelated worlds

Since 2021, with the launch of the Spain Audiovisual Hub Europe Plan, the sector's income has grown from 1.36 billion euros in 2021 to 1.47 billion in 2023, driven mainly by advertising (58% of the total) and pay television (40%). The ARPU went from a minimum of 80 euros after the pandemic to 100 euros in 2023, showing expected stability for the coming years.

Likewise, the percentage of households with Connected Smart TV Internet increased from 53.1% in 2021 to 64.1% in 2023, evidencing the growing penetration of connected televisions in Spain. This data is related to the notorious growth of the OTT sector, with revenues that tripled to a forecast of 3,436 million in 2024. SVOD leads billing, while digital advertising expands income sources. The user base stabilized at around 40 million, showing a mature and competitive market. Regarding Spanish content on international platforms, this exceeded 1,292 million euros.

Advertising and video games

The advertising sector in Spain exceeded 12.6 billion euros in 2023. The push for digital media has transformed the strategy of brands and agencies, with a sustained increase in investment in online platforms and innovative formats.

Advertising maintains a solid base of more than 45,000 companies, a reflection of its resilience and capacity to adapt, while employment reached peaks of 130,000 people in 2023, with notable growth in female participation, which shows a change towards greater diversity. Advanced segmentation, real-time audience measurement and integration with audiovisual content, the report says, are redefining advertising as a financing engine for the audiovisual sector.

With respect to the video games, Spain has shown sustained growth since 2021, both in turnover and in the number of players, studios and employees. Between 2022 and 2023, turnover grew by 16.3% annually, while in 2024 the increase was more moderate (3%), reflecting the stability of the industry in a context of declining physical sales, which still represent a relevant part of the total.

In 2024, the number of players increased by more than 10%, surpassing 22 million people, indicating a more pronounced growth in the player base than in turnover. Furthermore, 2024 marked a milestone by being the first year in which the number of female players exceeded that of male players. Although turnover and employment grew more moderately, the expansion of the gaming community reflects a strengthening of the sector from the perspective of the public and the potential market.

Los esports have also followed a positive trend, reaching in 2024 revenue of 44 million euros, 10% more than in 2023. Sponsorships represent more than two-thirds of the total, consolidating themselves as the main source of income, followed by broadcast rights. This shows the consolidation of esports as a strategic component within the video game industry.

Metaverse, XR and sustainability

The sector of XR and VR in Spain has experienced notable growth in recent years, especially in the AR hardware, which went from 8.7 million to 89.2 million euros in four years, and in VR hardware, which increased by 113%. However, within VR, the software category has grown the most.

In 2024, a relative increase in the weight of the hardware VR within total revenues, reflecting a change in market structure. By 2024, penetration in Spain is expected to reach 5.7%, more than double that of 2021. According to the public consultation of Immersive XR, 44% of respondents have limited experience with these devices, only 10% use them recurrently and 24% own them.

This growth potential is accompanied by the consolidation of the business ecosystem in Spain, with historical peaks in the creation of XR companies in 2017 and 2020, as well as an increase in public aid that, between 2023 and 2024, exceeded 40 concessions worth 2.6 million euros.

The metaverse market in Spain also shows a significant expansion, estimated in 2024 at more than 876 million euros, which represents a growth of more than 60% from 2022. Within this market, the sectors with the greatest weight are e-commerce and the gaming, with a 30.2% and 32.1% respectively, representing almost two thirds of the total. This indicates that the evolution and growth of these segments are decisive for the general development of the metaverse in Spain.

Finally, the Spain Audiovisual Hub report reflects how the sustainability has been consolidated as a priority for the audiovisual industry in Spain and Europe, motivated by the need to reduce its environmental impact. Tools and certifications have been developed such as EcoMuvi, Green Film, Albert o carbon calculators (Eureca, KlimAktiv), and leading companies such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video or Mediapro have implemented climate commitments and green protocols, while public organizations such as RTVE or the ICAA They have incorporated sustainability criteria in productions and aid.