Cinema bucks media downturn

Latest Cinema Advertising Association (CAA) figures show cinema to be bucking the media downturn, with 2008 marking a bumper year for cinema admissions.

Overall, cinema admissions have grown 1.1% year-on-year, standing at 164.2 million for the year, from 162.4 million in 2007. 2008 also marked the highest summer cinema admissions for 40 years, with UK’s cinema venues attracting over 50 million visitors (53,642,237) between June and August this year, an increase of 5.6% year on year and standing as the most successful summer cinema period since 1969, with July the best month for admission in 2008 (over 21 million).

It was also a year for breakthrough records with Mamma Mia! becoming the highest grossing British film, and then the highest grossing film in the UK with £69.2m, and Quantum of Solace has recording the highest opening weekend for any film in the UK with £15.4m

Gemma Atkinson, Sales Director for Digital Cinema Media comments:

“The pull of the big screen remains incredibly strong. Despite consumer confidence sliding, these admission figures prove that the cinema experience is one thing consumers are not prepared to sacrifice. This, coupled with the huge amount of media attention that films like Sex and the City, Mamma Mia! and Quantum of Solace received throughout the year, demonstrates that the UK’s love affair with the cinema shows no sign of slowing.”

Anna Cremin, head of research, Pearl & Dean comments: “Overall, 2008 was a very positive year for cinema, bolstered by the release of strong crowd-pulling titles such as Quantum of Solace, The Dark Knight, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Sex and the City and High School Musical 3, not to mention the worldwide phenomenon which was Mamma Mia!. This mix of films ensured the movies in 2008 had broad audience appeal and 2009 looks to continue this trend with releases like Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and Star Trek.”