Israeli Cinema Day, held Wednesday on the initiative of Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar, drew a record 140,000 viewers to theaters across Israel—the highest single-day cinema attendance ever recorded in the country.
The event, organized for the second time this year by the Culture and Sports Ministry, screened new Israeli films at all major cinema chains and cultural halls nationwide—in both central areas and the periphery. The initiative aimed to strengthen Israeli creativity, make local cinema accessible to the broader public, and encourage audiences to return to theaters.
Zohar visited a Haifa cinema during the day, met with viewers, and called on the public to come out to theaters, enjoy Israeli creativity, and support the local film industry.
“The impressive figure of about 140,000 viewers in a single day is clear proof that the Israeli public loves Israeli cinema and wants to consume original Israeli culture,” Zohar said. “We will continue to work to strengthen creators and make culture accessible to all citizens of Israel. This is a celebration for Israeli cinema and Israeli culture as a whole.”
Theaters welcomed the initiative and the high public response, noting it was one of the strongest days the Israeli cinema industry has seen in recent years.
The five films that led ticket sales on Israeli Cinema Day were: “Kupa Rashit – The Movie,” “American Henna,” “Jaffa Pictures,” “Heaven and Earth,” and “League of Greats.”
Among all films, “Kupa Rashit – The Movie” stood out with sales of about 100,000 tickets across thousands of screenings nationwide, becoming the most-watched film during Israeli Cinema Day.