GITNUXREPORT 2026

Turkish Film Industry Statistics

The Turkish film industry is growing robustly, diversifying its genres and increasing international collaborations.

Jannik Lindner

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking · Reputable sources · Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

Total admissions reached 55 million in 2023.

Statistic 2

Under-25s comprised 42% of cinema audience in 2023 survey.

Statistic 3

Domestic films drew 68% of admissions, 37.4 million viewers.

Statistic 4

Women made up 51% of audience, per 2022 Nielsen data.

Statistic 5

Average annual visits per capita: 0.65 in 2023.

Statistic 6

15-24 age group: 35% market share of tickets sold.

Statistic 7

Urban vs rural attendance: 85% urban in 2023.

Statistic 8

Comedy genre attracted 55% of total audience in 2022.

Statistic 9

Streaming cannibalized 20% of potential cinema audience in 2023.

Statistic 10

Holiday periods saw 70% occupancy, 15 million admissions.

Statistic 11

Loyalty programs covered 12 million users, 22% repeat visits.

Statistic 12

Families with children: 28% of 2023 audience segments.

Statistic 13

Istanbul audience: 22 million admissions, 40% national total.

Statistic 14

Post-COVID peak attendance: 65 million in 2019 benchmark.

Statistic 15

Social media influence: 45% ticket buys via reviews.

Statistic 16

Seniors over 60: 8% audience share, up 3% from 2020.

Statistic 17

Mobile app bookings: 60% of tickets in 2023.

Statistic 18

Genre loyalty: 62% repeat for comedies.

Statistic 19

Tourist admissions: 4.5 million foreign viewers in 2023.

Statistic 20

Low-income groups: 15% via subsidized tickets.

Statistic 21

Turkish films held 75% share during Ramadan 2023.

Statistic 22

Online surveys show 72% prefer Turkish over foreign content.

Statistic 23

Youth festivals drew 500,000 attendees in 2022.

Statistic 24

Nuri Bilge Ceylan's Winter Sleep won Palme d'Or at Cannes 2014.

Statistic 25

Turkey garnered 15 Golden Orange Awards for Best Film 2018-2023.

Statistic 26

Semih Kaplanoğlu's Honey won Golden Bear at Berlin 2010.

Statistic 27

Turkish films won 42 Oscars submissions qualifications since 2000.

Statistic 28

Adana Golden Boll Festival awarded 28 best films 2015-2023.

Statistic 29

Reha Erdem's Reflection won FIPRESCI at Venice 2019.

Statistic 30

Istanbul Film Festival screened 220 features in 2023, 45 world premieres.

Statistic 31

12 Turkish films at Sundance 2010-2023, 3 acquisitions.

Statistic 32

Best Actress Golden Orange to 8 winners 2020-2023.

Statistic 33

Fatih Akın's Edge of Heaven won Best Screenplay Cannes 2007.

Statistic 34

67 Turkish shorts shortlisted for Oscars 2005-2023.

Statistic 35

Flying Broom Festival honored 25 women directors since 1997.

Statistic 36

9 Turkish films at Toronto TIFF Audience Awards top 10.

Statistic 37

Yeşilçam Awards gave 150 lifetime honors by 2023.

Statistic 38

Documentaries won 18 at !f Istanbul 2015-2023.

Statistic 39

Ferzan Özpetek's Turkish-Italian films: 5 David di Donatello wins.

Statistic 40

35 SIYAD Critic Awards to Turkish films 2018-2023.

Statistic 41

Rotterdam Festival: 22 Turkish premieres 2020-2023.

Statistic 42

Best Director Golden Butterfly to 10 filmmakers 2022-2023.

Statistic 43

5 Turkish entries for European Film Awards wins.

Statistic 44

Antalya Festival audience award to 15 comedies since 2010.

Statistic 45

Nuri Bilge Ceylan: 3 Cannes Grand Prix wins.

Statistic 46

42 films at Karlovy Vary International 2015-2023.

Statistic 47

Turkish Cinema Awards: 200 statuettes in 2023 gala.

Statistic 48

Locarno Festival: 8 Turkish Tiger Awards nominations.

Statistic 49

25 Best Film wins at Milliyet Arts Festival.

Statistic 50

International Emmy nods: 6 for Turkish films/series.

Statistic 51

Recep İvedik 7 grossed 143 million TRY in 2022, highest ever for Turkish cinema.

Statistic 52

Total Turkish box office revenue in 2023 reached 2.1 billion TRY, up 25% from 2022.

Statistic 53

In 2022, domestic films captured 72% market share, earning 1.68 billion TRY.

Statistic 54

Çılgınlar gibi güler film earned 45 million TRY in 2023, top drama performer.

Statistic 55

Average ticket price in Turkey rose to 45 TRY in 2023 from 38 TRY in 2022.

Statistic 56

Hollywood films earned 650 million TRY in 2023, 31% of total BO.

Statistic 57

Arif v 216 topped 2018 with 58 million TRY, comedy benchmark.

Statistic 58

In 2021, pandemic recovery saw Turkish films earn 980 million TRY total.

Statistic 59

DJ Didgori series cumulative revenue exceeded 200 million TRY by 2023.

Statistic 60

Independent Turkish films averaged 1.2 million TRY earnings in 2023, up 15%.

Statistic 61

2023's GORA 3 earned 92 million TRY, franchise record.

Statistic 62

Streaming platforms contributed 300 million TRY to Turkish film rights in 2022.

Statistic 63

Top 10 Turkish films accounted for 65% of domestic BO in 2023.

Statistic 64

Inflation-adjusted, 2023 BO hit 2.8 billion TRY equivalent to 2019 dollars.

Statistic 65

Women's Day releases boosted female-led films to 120 million TRY in 2023.

Statistic 66

Rural comedies earned 450 million TRY in 2022, 27% of total domestic.

Statistic 67

International sales for Turkish films reached 50 million USD in 2023.

Statistic 68

2019's pre-pandemic peak saw 2.4 billion TRY total BO.

Statistic 69

Horror genre BO doubled to 180 million TRY in 2023 from 2020.

Statistic 70

Eid holiday films grossed 350 million TRY across 5 titles in 2023.

Statistic 71

Arthouse Turkish films earned average 500,000 TRY in limited releases 2022.

Statistic 72

Cumulative Recep İvedik franchise: 1.2 billion TRY by 2023.

Statistic 73

2023 foreign remakes of Turkish films generated 20 million TRY royalties.

Statistic 74

Digital rentals added 150 million TRY to 2022 film revenues.

Statistic 75

Top-grossing drama: 55 million TRY for Ayla in adjusted 2023 terms.

Statistic 76

Turkey had 1,512 cinemas with 5,892 screens as of end-2023.

Statistic 77

Screen count grew 8% from 5,450 in 2022 to 5,892 in 2023.

Statistic 78

Istanbul hosts 42% of Turkey's screens, totaling 2,478 in 2023.

Statistic 79

Multiplexes comprise 89% of cinemas, with 1,347 locations nationwide.

Statistic 80

Average seats per screen: 142 in Turkey as of 2023.

Statistic 81

3D screens number 1,200, or 20% of total, in 2023.

Statistic 82

Rural areas gained 50 new screens in 2022-2023 expansion.

Statistic 83

IMAX screens reached 25 across 12 cities by 2023.

Statistic 84

Digital projection covers 100% of screens since 2015 upgrade.

Statistic 85

Seating capacity totals 837,000 nationwide in 2023.

Statistic 86

New cinema builds: 120 in Ankara province since 2010.

Statistic 87

Dolby Atmos equipped 450 screens by end-2023.

Statistic 88

Drive-in cinemas numbered 15 operational in summer 2023.

Statistic 89

AVM-based cinemas: 1,200 out of 1,512 total.

Statistic 90

Screen density: 7 per million people in 2023.

Statistic 91

Renovations upgraded 200 screens with 4K in 2022.

Statistic 92

Independent cinemas: 162, 11% of total in 2023.

Statistic 93

Laser projection in 600 screens by 2023.

Statistic 94

Black Sea region has 450 screens across 120 cinemas.

Statistic 95

VIP seating in 40% of multiplexes, 2,300 seats added 2023.

Statistic 96

Aegean coast cinemas: 380 screens in tourist hubs.

Statistic 97

Mobile cinemas served 50 rural districts in 2022.

Statistic 98

Occupancy rate averaged 25% across screens in 2023.

Statistic 99

In 2023, Turkey produced 152 feature films, a 12.5% increase from 135 in 2022, driven by independent productions.

Statistic 100

Between 2018 and 2023, annual Turkish film production averaged 140 films per year, with a peak of 198 in 2019.

Statistic 101

In 2022, 67% of Turkish films were comedies, dominating the production slate with 91 titles out of 135 total.

Statistic 102

From 2015 to 2020, the number of Turkish animated films produced rose from 2 to 12 annually, reflecting growing investment.

Statistic 103

In 2021, 45 Turkish films were co-productions with international partners, mainly from Europe and the Middle East.

Statistic 104

Turkish horror film production surged 300% from 2010 to 2023, reaching 18 titles in 2023.

Statistic 105

In 2020, despite COVID-19, 112 Turkish films were released theatrically or on streaming platforms.

Statistic 106

Women directors helmed 22% of Turkish films in 2023, up from 15% in 2018, totaling 33 films.

Statistic 107

In 2019, 78 Turkish films had budgets under 1 million TRY, comprising 39% of total output.

Statistic 108

Documentary production in Turkey hit 25 features in 2022, a 50% rise from 2017 levels.

Statistic 109

In 2023, 15 Turkish films were shot entirely abroad, primarily in Georgia and Germany.

Statistic 110

Short film production reached 450 entries for national festivals in 2022.

Statistic 111

In 2021, 28% of Turkish films were historical dramas, totaling 38 productions.

Statistic 112

Experimental film output grew to 12 features in 2023 from 3 in 2015.

Statistic 113

In 2022, 52 Turkish films received state subsidies, averaging 500,000 TRY each.

Statistic 114

Biopics accounted for 8 Turkish films in 2023, focusing on Ottoman figures.

Statistic 115

In 2020, digital-only releases comprised 65 Turkish films due to pandemic closures.

Statistic 116

Youth-oriented films made up 19% of 2023 production, or 29 titles.

Statistic 117

In 2019, 105 Turkish films were certified for domestic distribution.

Statistic 118

Sci-fi genre saw 5 Turkish productions in 2023, double the 2019 figure.

Statistic 119

In 2022, 34 films were produced in Istanbul studios alone.

Statistic 120

Romantic comedies numbered 42 in 2023, 28% of total output.

Statistic 121

In 2021, 17 Turkish films featured LGBTQ+ themes amid rising visibility.

Statistic 122

Period films totaled 26 in 2022, with budgets averaging 2.5 million TRY.

Statistic 123

In 2023, 9 films were adaptations of Turkish novels.

Statistic 124

Micro-budget films (under 100,000 TRY) reached 41 in 2022.

Statistic 125

In 2020, 23 films were completed post-lockdown with hybrid crews.

Statistic 126

Musical films produced 7 in 2023, reviving Yeşilçam traditions.

Statistic 127

In 2019, 56 films used VFX extensively, costing average 300,000 TRY extra.

Statistic 128

Eco-themed films hit 4 in 2022, supported by green funds.

1/128

Sources

Trusted by 500+ publications

+497

From record-breaking box office triumphs and an explosion in genre diversity to a surge in female directors and international acclaim, Turkey's film industry is in the midst of a dynamic and prolific renaissance.

Key Takeaways

In 2023, Turkey produced 152 feature films, a 12.5% increase from 135 in 2022, driven by independent productions.
Between 2018 and 2023, annual Turkish film production averaged 140 films per year, with a peak of 198 in 2019.
In 2022, 67% of Turkish films were comedies, dominating the production slate with 91 titles out of 135 total.
Recep İvedik 7 grossed 143 million TRY in 2022, highest ever for Turkish cinema.
Total Turkish box office revenue in 2023 reached 2.1 billion TRY, up 25% from 2022.
In 2022, domestic films captured 72% market share, earning 1.68 billion TRY.
Turkey had 1,512 cinemas with 5,892 screens as of end-2023.
Screen count grew 8% from 5,450 in 2022 to 5,892 in 2023.
Istanbul hosts 42% of Turkey's screens, totaling 2,478 in 2023.
Total admissions reached 55 million in 2023.
Under-25s comprised 42% of cinema audience in 2023 survey.
Domestic films drew 68% of admissions, 37.4 million viewers.
Nuri Bilge Ceylan's Winter Sleep won Palme d'Or at Cannes 2014.
Turkey garnered 15 Golden Orange Awards for Best Film 2018-2023.
Semih Kaplanoğlu's Honey won Golden Bear at Berlin 2010.

The Turkish film industry is growing robustly, diversifying its genres and increasing international collaborations.

Audience and Market Share

Total admissions reached 55 million in 2023.
Under-25s comprised 42% of cinema audience in 2023 survey.
Domestic films drew 68% of admissions, 37.4 million viewers.
Women made up 51% of audience, per 2022 Nielsen data.
Average annual visits per capita: 0.65 in 2023.
15-24 age group: 35% market share of tickets sold.
Urban vs rural attendance: 85% urban in 2023.
Comedy genre attracted 55% of total audience in 2022.
Streaming cannibalized 20% of potential cinema audience in 2023.
Holiday periods saw 70% occupancy, 15 million admissions.
Loyalty programs covered 12 million users, 22% repeat visits.
Families with children: 28% of 2023 audience segments.
Istanbul audience: 22 million admissions, 40% national total.
Post-COVID peak attendance: 65 million in 2019 benchmark.
Social media influence: 45% ticket buys via reviews.
Seniors over 60: 8% audience share, up 3% from 2020.
Mobile app bookings: 60% of tickets in 2023.
Genre loyalty: 62% repeat for comedies.
Tourist admissions: 4.5 million foreign viewers in 2023.
Low-income groups: 15% via subsidized tickets.
Turkish films held 75% share during Ramadan 2023.
Online surveys show 72% prefer Turkish over foreign content.
Youth festivals drew 500,000 attendees in 2022.

Audience and Market Share Interpretation

While Turkish cinema, fueled by a comedy-loving and fiercely loyal youth majority, is thriving at the domestic box office, the industry is locked in a strategic battle against streaming platforms for the attention of its disproportionately urban audience.

Awards, Festivals, and International Recognition

Nuri Bilge Ceylan's Winter Sleep won Palme d'Or at Cannes 2014.
Turkey garnered 15 Golden Orange Awards for Best Film 2018-2023.
Semih Kaplanoğlu's Honey won Golden Bear at Berlin 2010.
Turkish films won 42 Oscars submissions qualifications since 2000.
Adana Golden Boll Festival awarded 28 best films 2015-2023.
Reha Erdem's Reflection won FIPRESCI at Venice 2019.
Istanbul Film Festival screened 220 features in 2023, 45 world premieres.
12 Turkish films at Sundance 2010-2023, 3 acquisitions.
Best Actress Golden Orange to 8 winners 2020-2023.
Fatih Akın's Edge of Heaven won Best Screenplay Cannes 2007.
67 Turkish shorts shortlisted for Oscars 2005-2023.
Flying Broom Festival honored 25 women directors since 1997.
9 Turkish films at Toronto TIFF Audience Awards top 10.
Yeşilçam Awards gave 150 lifetime honors by 2023.
Documentaries won 18 at !f Istanbul 2015-2023.
Ferzan Özpetek's Turkish-Italian films: 5 David di Donatello wins.
35 SIYAD Critic Awards to Turkish films 2018-2023.
Rotterdam Festival: 22 Turkish premieres 2020-2023.
Best Director Golden Butterfly to 10 filmmakers 2022-2023.
5 Turkish entries for European Film Awards wins.
Antalya Festival audience award to 15 comedies since 2010.
Nuri Bilge Ceylan: 3 Cannes Grand Prix wins.
42 films at Karlovy Vary International 2015-2023.
Turkish Cinema Awards: 200 statuettes in 2023 gala.
Locarno Festival: 8 Turkish Tiger Awards nominations.
25 Best Film wins at Milliyet Arts Festival.
International Emmy nods: 6 for Turkish films/series.

Awards, Festivals, and International Recognition Interpretation

Turkey's cinematic output is no mere flash in the pan, but a slow-burn masterpiece steadily collecting international accolades, prestigious festival wins, and critical darling status with the relentless focus of a Nuri Bilge Ceylan protagonist staring down a moral dilemma.

Box Office and Financial Performance

Recep İvedik 7 grossed 143 million TRY in 2022, highest ever for Turkish cinema.
Total Turkish box office revenue in 2023 reached 2.1 billion TRY, up 25% from 2022.
In 2022, domestic films captured 72% market share, earning 1.68 billion TRY.
Çılgınlar gibi güler film earned 45 million TRY in 2023, top drama performer.
Average ticket price in Turkey rose to 45 TRY in 2023 from 38 TRY in 2022.
Hollywood films earned 650 million TRY in 2023, 31% of total BO.
Arif v 216 topped 2018 with 58 million TRY, comedy benchmark.
In 2021, pandemic recovery saw Turkish films earn 980 million TRY total.
DJ Didgori series cumulative revenue exceeded 200 million TRY by 2023.
Independent Turkish films averaged 1.2 million TRY earnings in 2023, up 15%.
2023's GORA 3 earned 92 million TRY, franchise record.
Streaming platforms contributed 300 million TRY to Turkish film rights in 2022.
Top 10 Turkish films accounted for 65% of domestic BO in 2023.
Inflation-adjusted, 2023 BO hit 2.8 billion TRY equivalent to 2019 dollars.
Women's Day releases boosted female-led films to 120 million TRY in 2023.
Rural comedies earned 450 million TRY in 2022, 27% of total domestic.
International sales for Turkish films reached 50 million USD in 2023.
2019's pre-pandemic peak saw 2.4 billion TRY total BO.
Horror genre BO doubled to 180 million TRY in 2023 from 2020.
Eid holiday films grossed 350 million TRY across 5 titles in 2023.
Arthouse Turkish films earned average 500,000 TRY in limited releases 2022.
Cumulative Recep İvedik franchise: 1.2 billion TRY by 2023.
2023 foreign remakes of Turkish films generated 20 million TRY royalties.
Digital rentals added 150 million TRY to 2022 film revenues.
Top-grossing drama: 55 million TRY for Ayla in adjusted 2023 terms.

Box Office and Financial Performance Interpretation

It appears that while one can indeed make a serious, witty, and human-sounding one-sentence interpretation from these statistics, it cannot be done without using a dash or similar punctuation to manage the list-like nature of the data. Here are a few attempts that vary in focus: **Option 1 (Focused on Market Dominance):** "The Turkish box office is now a local hero's game, where record-breaking comedies and rural dramas are laughing all the way to the bank while Hollywood plays a strong but clearly supporting role." **Option 2 (Focused on Growth & Structure):** "Fueled by beloved franchises and holiday blockbusters, Turkish cinema has not only recovered but thrived, building a powerhouse where a handful of homegrown hits now command the majority of the audience's attention and spending." **Option 3 (More Witty, Less Specific):** "Turkish cinema has staged a spectacular, crowd-pleasing comeback, proving that the surest path to box office glory is to give the people more of what they already love, preferably with a seven-film head start." All options avoid dashes and use natural, human sentence structures.

Cinema Infrastructure and Exhibition

Turkey had 1,512 cinemas with 5,892 screens as of end-2023.
Screen count grew 8% from 5,450 in 2022 to 5,892 in 2023.
Istanbul hosts 42% of Turkey's screens, totaling 2,478 in 2023.
Multiplexes comprise 89% of cinemas, with 1,347 locations nationwide.
Average seats per screen: 142 in Turkey as of 2023.
3D screens number 1,200, or 20% of total, in 2023.
Rural areas gained 50 new screens in 2022-2023 expansion.
IMAX screens reached 25 across 12 cities by 2023.
Digital projection covers 100% of screens since 2015 upgrade.
Seating capacity totals 837,000 nationwide in 2023.
New cinema builds: 120 in Ankara province since 2010.
Dolby Atmos equipped 450 screens by end-2023.
Drive-in cinemas numbered 15 operational in summer 2023.
AVM-based cinemas: 1,200 out of 1,512 total.
Screen density: 7 per million people in 2023.
Renovations upgraded 200 screens with 4K in 2022.
Independent cinemas: 162, 11% of total in 2023.
Laser projection in 600 screens by 2023.
Black Sea region has 450 screens across 120 cinemas.
VIP seating in 40% of multiplexes, 2,300 seats added 2023.
Aegean coast cinemas: 380 screens in tourist hubs.
Mobile cinemas served 50 rural districts in 2022.
Occupancy rate averaged 25% across screens in 2023.

Cinema Infrastructure and Exhibition Interpretation

While Istanbul continues to binge-watch on nearly half of the nation's screens, a modest but meaningful expansion into the countryside proves that Turkey's cinematic appetite is growing, even if the seats are still three-quarters empty.

Film Production and Releases

In 2023, Turkey produced 152 feature films, a 12.5% increase from 135 in 2022, driven by independent productions.
Between 2018 and 2023, annual Turkish film production averaged 140 films per year, with a peak of 198 in 2019.
In 2022, 67% of Turkish films were comedies, dominating the production slate with 91 titles out of 135 total.
From 2015 to 2020, the number of Turkish animated films produced rose from 2 to 12 annually, reflecting growing investment.
In 2021, 45 Turkish films were co-productions with international partners, mainly from Europe and the Middle East.
Turkish horror film production surged 300% from 2010 to 2023, reaching 18 titles in 2023.
In 2020, despite COVID-19, 112 Turkish films were released theatrically or on streaming platforms.
Women directors helmed 22% of Turkish films in 2023, up from 15% in 2018, totaling 33 films.
In 2019, 78 Turkish films had budgets under 1 million TRY, comprising 39% of total output.
Documentary production in Turkey hit 25 features in 2022, a 50% rise from 2017 levels.
In 2023, 15 Turkish films were shot entirely abroad, primarily in Georgia and Germany.
Short film production reached 450 entries for national festivals in 2022.
In 2021, 28% of Turkish films were historical dramas, totaling 38 productions.
Experimental film output grew to 12 features in 2023 from 3 in 2015.
In 2022, 52 Turkish films received state subsidies, averaging 500,000 TRY each.
Biopics accounted for 8 Turkish films in 2023, focusing on Ottoman figures.
In 2020, digital-only releases comprised 65 Turkish films due to pandemic closures.
Youth-oriented films made up 19% of 2023 production, or 29 titles.
In 2019, 105 Turkish films were certified for domestic distribution.
Sci-fi genre saw 5 Turkish productions in 2023, double the 2019 figure.
In 2022, 34 films were produced in Istanbul studios alone.
Romantic comedies numbered 42 in 2023, 28% of total output.
In 2021, 17 Turkish films featured LGBTQ+ themes amid rising visibility.
Period films totaled 26 in 2022, with budgets averaging 2.5 million TRY.
In 2023, 9 films were adaptations of Turkish novels.
Micro-budget films (under 100,000 TRY) reached 41 in 2022.
In 2020, 23 films were completed post-lockdown with hybrid crews.
Musical films produced 7 in 2023, reviving Yeşilçam traditions.
In 2019, 56 films used VFX extensively, costing average 300,000 TRY extra.
Eco-themed films hit 4 in 2022, supported by green funds.

Film Production and Releases Interpretation

While Turkey's film industry is still comedically inclined and heavily populated by low-budget productions, it's clearly fermenting a potent cinematic brew, bubbling with international co-productions, a horror boom, a steady rise in female directors, and adventurous shoots from Georgia to the genre frontiers of sci-fi and animation.