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| Author | Mia Blakeney |
Global media measurement and analytics company Comscore have published their UK & Ireland 2023 Box Office Review.
The report shows that in 2023, total box office revenue across the UK & Ireland was £1,062,047,498, an increase of 8% versus 2022’s total of £980,516,136. 2023 also marks the first post-pandemic year to achieve over £1 billion, a significant milestone on the journey to full recovery.
Although the SAG-AFTRA strikes during the summer of 2023 caused the release of some blockbuster titles to be pushed into 2024, 2023 still saw a significant improvement in the number of blockbuster releases. In 2023, 174 blockbusters were released, up from 135 in 2022, and just shy of the 186 released in 2019.
According to Comscore’s report, there is no strong sign of the cost-of-living crisis affecting cinemagoing. The price of a ticket remains seemingly affordable to the majority with exhibitors offering a range of special offers and discounts. The second annual National Cinema Day took place in 2023, and the appeal of participating in cultural moments at the cinema was emphasized by the huge volume of positive conversation.
Unsurprisingly, the summer of 2023 was the strongest period of the year, with the release of Barbie and Oppenheimer sparking the #Barbenheimer phenomenon, and resulting in the top two films of the year.
The top 10 films of 2023 in the UK & Ireland were:
1. Barbie (Warner Bros): £95.5m
2. Oppenheimer (Universal): £58.7m
3. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Universal): £54.8m
4. Wonka (Warner Bros): £49.2m – currently still in cinemas
5. Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (Disney): £36.7m
6. Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse (Sony): £30.7m
7. The Little Mermaid (Disney): £27.4m
8. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (Paramount): £26.6m
9. Puss In Boots: The Last Wish (Universal): £26.0m
10. Avatar: The Way Of Water (Disney): £25.5m in 2023 (£77.3m lifetime)
These top 10 films accounted for 40.5% of 2023’s total revenue, slightly lower than 2022’s figure of 43.8%, which reflects a greater diversity of successful titles.
2024 is set to be another big year for cinema. Hollywood is back in full swing, and there are some big blockbusters to look forward to this year, as well as major releases and unique independent stories for a range of audiences to enjoy. Some of the most highly anticipated films of 2024 include:
Dune: Part Two
Release Date: 1 March 2024
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken
Back To Black
Release Date: 12 April
Director: Sam Taylor-Johnson
Starring: Marisa Abela, Lesley Manville, Jack O’Connell, Eddie Marsan
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Release Date: 24 May
Director: George Miller
Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Charlee Fraser, Angus Sampson
Inside Out 2
Release Date: 14 June
Director: Kelsey Mann
Starring: Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Maya Hawke
Deadpool 3
Release Date: 26 July
Director: Shawn Levy
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Garner, Morena Baccarin
Joker: Folie à Deux
Release Date: 4 October
Director: Todd Phillips
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson, Zazie Beetz
Paddington In Peru
Release Date: 8 November
Director: Dougal Wilson
Starring: Ben Whishaw, Olivia Colman, Antonio Banderas, Julie Walters
Wicked
Release Date: 29 November
Director: Jon M. Chu
Starring: Cynthia Erivo Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum
Contact your DCM rep to learn more about any of these fantastic films.