This has happened for the first time in 10 years. Russian cinema has raised 12.6 billion rubles this year, or 23.8 percent of the national fund; it has been watched by 52.7 million viewers, or every fourth of cinema goers.

      These data are quoted by Vedomosti with reference to the magazine "Bulletin of the Film Distributor" and the Cinema Foundation.

      It is reported that in 2017 the audience of Russian films in cinemas has increased 57 percent and by 73.3 percent in aggregate over the last two years. At the same time, the number of foreign film viewers has increased insignificantly, by 1.2 percent only.

      The Russian audience and the box office are growing primarily due to the largest film projects. This year has seen two billionaire films - "The Gravity" by Fyodor Bondarchuk (1.1 billion rubles) and the fairy tale "The Last Strongman" (1.7 billion rubles).