The outlook for the film industry in the second half of the year is promising, according to leading Thai movie studio GDH 559 Co Ltd.
The industry was flat in the first half of the year, continuing a trend seen since the pandemic, said Jina Osothsilp, chief executive of GDH 559.
A total of 198 titles were released in the first half of the year. Movie ticket revenue in Bangkok, the metropolitan provinces and Chiang Mai reached about 1.16 billion baht, a slight increase from 1.13 billion baht during the same period last year.
Of these, 28 Thai films were released, generating 324 million baht in revenue in Greater Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
Despite a sluggish first half, Ms Jina is optimistic that the industry will become more vibrant in the second half, as more blockbuster films, both Thai and international, will hit the screens.
She estimates that local and foreign film revenue in Bangkok, the greater metropolitan area and Chiang Mai will exceed 3 billion baht this year, up from 2.8 billion baht last year.
WOW FACTOR
While consumers' entertainment time is being divided among social media, streaming platforms and other digital content, the industry must work together to elevate standards and overcome challenges posed by these competing platforms.
Ms Jina believes the industry's future depends on filmmakers' ability to create compelling content that motivates audiences to visit cinemas instead of watching at home.
"It depends on how studios craft their films and create the 'wow' factor that inspires people to buy tickets," she said.
She added that the cinema experience will continue to offer an advantage over smaller screens, as quality major blockbuster movies are designed to be enjoyed on the big screen.
"Only films lacking in quality will struggle," she said.
She said that more creative professionals are entering the sector. She expects the industry to collaborate with regional film sectors on joint projects, potentially expanding its audience across the region.
GROWTH STRATEGY
The company is targeting revenue of 556 million baht in 2026, or around a 70% increase from last year, driven by releases such as "Gohan".
The company also plans to release two new films this year: "Henry's First Dates" in the third quarter and "Inherit" in the fourth quarter.
GDH continues to expand into foreign markets, including through film copyright sales as a key strategy.
The company intends to capitalise on its intellectual properties by partnering with Siam Board Games, Fairplay Studios and Yggdrazil Group Plc to develop games in both board game and computer game formats.
In 2027 GDH, in collaboration with the School of Digital Media and Cinematic Arts, Bangkok University, and the Department of Motion Pictures & Still Photography, Faculty of Communication Arts, Chulalongkorn University, will co-develop a film course called "GDH Classroom". This initiative aims to train future film professionals for the industry.
