| Date | |
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| Author | DCM |
| Categories | cinemaExhibitor News |
Doctor Who’s eagerly anticipated 50th anniversary episode ‘The Day of the Doctor’ teleported its way into the UK box office with £1.8m, setting a new European record for alternative cinema content and becoming the third highest-grossing film over the weekend hot on the heels of blockbusters The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Gravity.
According to Rentrak, the screenings also earned £843,969 in Australia, £126,133 in the US and £195,461 in Germany, to name only a few that contributed to the rest of its impressive international earnings.
“That’s the sort of number that’s going to get people’s attention, including other TV production companies,” David Hancock, head of cinema research company HIS Screen Digest, told the Financial Times.
The Doctor Who episode was broadcast on TV in 94 countries and in 1500 cinemas worldwide, with the UK hosting 440 3D screenings. Shown in 15 different languages, the episode was enjoyed by fans from all over the globe, gaining itself a Guinness World record for the largest ever simulcast of a television drama in the process.
The 75-minute special, shown on BBC One at 7.50pm last Saturday, saw the return of previous Doctors, their companions and of course, the infamous Daleks, as well as providing viewers with a glimpse of the upcoming Doctor, Peter Capaldi. Fans gathered in cinemas all over the country to become a part of the shared viewing experience which cannot be rivalled in front of a TV, for an evening of cheers, tears and laughter, with the added bonus of the BBC’s special effects being showcased in 3D on the big screen.
The screening of the show sets an excellent example of the capabilities and increased opportunities cinema can offer since turning digital; allowing distributors and advertisers the chance to present audiences with a far broader range of content than previously seen before, in an immersive and entertaining environment.