Israeli Film Day Draws Record 140,000 Moviegoers

Israel’s second Israeli Film Day of 2025, organized by the Ministry of Culture and Sports at the initiative of Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar, drew an unprecedented estimated 140,000 viewers to cinemas across the country on Wednesday night. The ministry said this was the highest attendance ever recorded in a single day of film screenings in Israel.

As part of the one-day event, new Israeli films were screened in all cinema chains and cultural centers nationwide, in both central Israel and the periphery. The aim was to strengthen Israeli filmmaking, make local cinema more accessible to the public, and encourage audiences to return to theaters.

Zohar visited a cinema in Haifa during the day, met with moviegoers, and urged the public to come to theaters, enjoy Israeli productions, and support the local film industry. He said the turnout was proof that “the Israeli public loves Israeli cinema and wants to consume original Israeli culture,” and added, “We will continue to work to strengthen creators and make culture accessible to all citizens of Israel. This is a day of celebration for Israeli cinema and Israeli culture as a whole.”

Cinema chains welcomed the initiative and the strong public response, saying it was one of the strongest days the Israeli film sector has seen in recent years. The top five films in ticket sales were “Kupa Rashit, The Movie,” “Hina Americanit,” “Tmunot Yafot,” “Shamayim veAretz,” and “League of the Big Ones.” “Kupa Rashit, The Movie” was the clear leader, selling about 100,000 tickets in thousands of screenings nationwide and becoming the most-watched film of the day.