UK cinema admissions reach highest level for seven years | News | Screen

19 January, 2010 | By Sarah Cooper

UK cinema admissions are at their highest level since 2002, according to figures released by the UK Film Council today (January 19).

Admissions in 2009 rose to 173.5m from 164.2m for the previous year and just behind the 2002 record of 175.9m. The increase was driven by the success of international blockbusters such as Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince, Avatar and The Twilight Saga: New Moon.

According to the UKFC, the total UK gross box office for 2009 was $1.5bn (£944m), up 11% on 2008. Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince was the highest grossing film of the year taking $82.9m, (£50.72m), followed by Avatar, which has taken $67m (£41m) to date, and Ice Age: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs on 35.2m. Three of the year’s top five films – Avatar, Ice Age 3 and Up – were 3D releases.

The UKFC figures also show that UK production spend was up last year to £1.6bn (£956.9m), compared to $1m (£613m) in 2008, and inward investment has reached its highest ever level at $1.2bn (£752.7m). It compares to $582.8m (£356.8m) in 2008 and tops the previous record of $1.9m (£1.15bn) in 2003.

. . . John Woodward, CEO of the UK Film Council said: “British cinema-goers are voting with their feet – they want to see big event movies, many of which depend on outstanding British talent and are made in the UK thanks to our reliable film tax credit. In addition, what is particularly encouraging is that the public appetite for low budget independently-produced British films is rising once again despite the blockbuster phenomenon.”