UK cinemas report record box office in 2017
January 8, 2018
Figures from data company comScore confirm that UK box office during the year totalled £1,277,878,351 an increase of 4.9 per cent on the same period in 2016.
Like 2016, 2017 offered a broad range of titles to audiences. Four films passed the £40 million (€45.2m) milestone (with Paddington 2 expected to by the end of its theatrical run), matching the number for 2016.
Overall, 874 films and events were released into cinemas during 2017; this is a slight reduction from 2016’s 900 releases, following significant annual increases from around 500 releases a decade ago, suggesting that we may have reached a peak in the number of theatrical releases. Some titles which might have received a theatrical release are instead finding their audiences on alternative platforms, with companies such as Netflix and Amazon releasing films online.
The top ten for 2017 was:
- Star Wars: The Last Jedi (Walt Disney): £69.36 million (still on release)
- Beauty And The Beast (Walt Disney): £67.85 million
- Dunkirk (Warner Bros): £53.30 million
- Despicable Me 3 (Universal): £44.31 million (still on release)
- Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (Walt Disney): £38.78 million
- Paddington 2 (StudioCanal): £36.56 million (still on release)
- It (Warner Bros): £29.88 million
- Thor: Ragnarok (Walt Disney): £29.02 million (still on release)
- La La Land (Lionsgate UK): £28.58 million
- Spider-Man: Homecoming (Sony): £28.39 million
Welcoming these latest figures, Phil Clapp, UK Cinema Association Chief Executive, commented: “Alongside a strong and diverse film slate, today’s box office figures are testament to the unprecedented levels of investment made by UK cinema operators in 2017 in enhancing the big screen experience. From new site openings and refurbishments to technological advancements, these efforts have ensured the sector continues to thrive in the face of new competition from online platforms such as Netflix. It’s clear that the UK public still turns to cinema to get the “wow” experience they can’t enjoy anywhere else.
Lucy Jones, Executive Director at industry analysts comScore, commented: “Audiences want the right content on the right platform. The latest box office figures confirm that audiences still feel that films are best enjoyed at the cinema with the biggest possible screen, the best sound, comfortable seats and the communal experience. Despite embracing online services, there’s still a significant appetite for social interaction in the real world.”