Cinemas across the UK grossed more than £1.25bn in 2019 for the third consecutive year, though admissions were down 0.5 per cent from 2018.
Ticket sales have increased 27 per cent since 2010, with admissions reaching 176 million last year, compared with 177 million the year before.
UK cinemas gained momentum throughout last year, with the final six weeks delivering box office revenue 23 per cent higher than the same period in 2018.
The strong box office was led by Avengers: Endgame, The Lion King, Toy Story 4, Joker and Jumanji: The Next Level alongside British film titles including Downton Abbey, Rocketman, and Last Christmas, among others.
Iain Jacob, chair of industry body Cinema First, which published the figures, said: “The 2019 figures prove that cinema is alive and in remarkable shape with audiences having better access to a diverse film slate and massive investment making the big screen experience better value than ever.
“As we enter a new decade, the film production sector in the UK continues to flourish, generating significant value to the UK economy and British films continue to captivate audiences both at home and abroad.”
Last year, 900 films were released in UK cinemas, with more independent films than ever receiving a theatrical release. The year also saw a continuation of investment by UK cinema operators in refurbishing and growing the country’s cinema infrastructure, with over 20 new sites opening across the country and many more planned for 2020 and beyond.
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