New Year film hits spark clash between Russian Duma and cultural figures

The 2026 New Year holidays in Russian cinemas followed a predictable and seemingly triumphant script. A trio of family blockbusters — «Cheburashka 2», «Buratino», and «Prostokvashino» — collectively earned over 9 billion rubles (about $90 million at current rates). Theaters were packed, tickets sold out in advance, and news reports spoke of a «victory for domestic cinema» and «bringing audiences back to theaters».

The picture looked flawless — until the deputies of the State Duma returned from their break. A meeting of the State Duma Committee on Culture became the turning point. The tone of the discussion turned unexpectedly harsh: the deputies began criticizing the very films that had recently been hailed as flagships of cultural policy. Accusations flew of hackwork, unoriginality, «corrupting young minds», parasitizing on Soviet heritage, and using «famous names» for guaranteed box office returns.

However, in conditions where the main competitors have been pulled from distribution, even an openly weak film becomes a hit. This is not an artistic victory, but a well-built administrative machine. And the deputies know this perfectly well. By the way, a new bill is currently being discussed in the State Duma that expands the powers of the Ministry of Culture in determining the priorities for state support. And then, perhaps, Russian audiences might be treated to something other than endless fairy tales. MSK1.RU spoke with experts about this.

A Matter of Taste

People«s Artist of Russia, director Andrey Zhitinkin views the situation with equanimity: »In fact, the right of the founder — in this case, the Ministry of Culture — is indeed to set priorities and schedule releases. Deputies are concerned about what stays in the minds of viewers, but that is an eternal question. Business often does not align with personal tastes. Legally, this is not formalized: the emotional attitude of deputies cannot be a basis for decisions. Some like it, some don«t — as in the acting world. Society must have tolerance.»

Will They Ban Everything?

The opinion of film critic and cinema scholar Alexander Shpagin was much tougher. In his view, «if deputies are to control cultural policy in the country, they will ban everything.»

According to Shpagin, it is precisely these family remakes, which have suddenly (and quite inexplicably) drawn the Duma«s ire, that have become the main unifying trend: »These films create family values, connect the past and present. Young people watch «Cheburashka» and start taking an interest in the past. Finally, we have found a form of cinema. Thanks to such films, new theaters are opening, families and elderly people are going there again. Going to the movies has now become prestigious.«

Naturally, a key question arises: can box office be considered the main criterion? According to estimates by Kinopoisk, the current «New Year blockbuster battle» was the most record-breaking in history. Over the New Year holidays, more than 19 million tickets were sold (the previous record was in 2019 — just under 16 million tickets).

However, one reason for the record was a sharp increase in ticket prices: they now cost 534 rubles (about $5 at current rates) (last year it was 480 rubles, meaning the price increase far outpaced official inflation).

And at the end of last year, the list of record-breakers was, as always, mainly filled with film fairy tales (the very ones the deputies rebelled against): «The Wizard of the Emerald City», «Gorynych», «Alice in Wonderland». But among them was also the patriotic film «Avgust» about the Great Patriotic War (it earned almost 1.6 billion rubles, about $16 million) — exactly the kind of films the deputies, apparently, want to promote.

«»Avgust« is a wonderful film, complex and ambiguous, with pauses, not brisk, but rather suspenseful, like a thriller,» says Alexander Shpagin. He notes that culture always balances between the dictate of taste and the dictate of the market, but it never becomes fully controllable: «Sometimes the viewer is an ally, sometimes a formidable opponent. A huge amount of obvious trash collected gigantic box office in the 2010s. That is, we practically almost jumped into Bollywood. But in the case of the »Cheburashka« films, everything came together: artistry, correctness, and audience success. Everyone is happy, everyone is satisfied. And the deputies want to ban this?! To ban precisely this today means destroying the last mass form that really works. And what do they want to allow?! I personally don»t understand.«

According to Shpagin, the deputies« desire to control cinema is understandable, because it is »the most important of the arts,« the most popular, the most pop, and the most effective, and not only entertaining, like pop songs, but also providing pictures of life and, accordingly, creating social narratives, art.»

«How many attempts have there been to create Russian-only movie theaters and not allow American films in. All Russian-only movie theaters turned into American film theaters within two months. Just like theaters for state-supported documentary films, they all closed anyway. If the people don»t want to watch something, they won«t watch it!»