The U.K. and Ireland box office experienced a significant surge in revenue in 2023, reaching £1.06 billion ($1.35 billion), according to Comscore. Although this figure reflects an 8.3% increase from the previous year, it still falls short of the pre-pandemic total of £1.35 billion ($1.72 billion) in 2019.
A Post-Pandemic Milestone
2023 marked the first full year since 2019 without any COVID-19 restrictions, making it a significant milestone for the industry. It surpassed the £1 billion mark, which hadn’t been achieved post-pandemic before. From 2015 to 2019, the annual box office had consistently exceeded £1.3 billion.
Growth Across the U.K. and Ireland
Among the five nations and regions comprising the U.K. and Ireland, the Republic of Ireland experienced the highest year-on-year growth, with a 13% increase in box office revenue. Meanwhile, Wales saw a 10% rise, with Northern Ireland, England, and Scotland all experiencing an 8% increase.
More Releases, More Success
The number of new film releases in 2023 rose to 1,013, compared to 929 in 2022 and 938 in 2019. This increase in movies included more blockbuster releases as well, as production delays caused by the pandemic subsided. The number of saturation releases (films playing in over 250 cinemas) went from 186 in 2019 to 135 in 2022, but rebounded to 174 in 2023. Despite some title delays due to strikes, such as “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” “Kraven The Hunter,” and “Dune: Part II,” the impact on the box office was minor compared to the earlier shutdowns.
The Impact of ‘Barbenheimer’
Despite the cost of living crisis in the U.K., moviegoers were not deterred from visiting cinemas. The report from Comscore highlights the incredible impact of the film “Barbenheimer,” with over 40 million global interactions on social media in a single day in July. The movie “Barbie” led the box office with £95.5 million, followed by “Oppenheimer” with £58.7 million, and “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” with £54.8 million. Although the top 10 films accounted for 40.5% of the total revenue in 2023, a slight decrease from 2022, it reflects a more diverse range of releases.
The Summer Reigns Supreme
The summer of 2023 proved to be the strongest period, with six of the top 10 titles released between May and July. The lineup included highly-anticipated films such as “Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3,” “Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning: Part One,” “Barbie,” and “Oppenheimer.”
An Optimistic Outlook
Despite the challenges faced by U.K. exhibitors, the positive box office figures for 2023 indicate a step towards recovery. Phil Clapp, Chief Executive of the U.K. Cinema Association, expressed his satisfaction with the results. Andy Leyshon, Chief Executive at the Film Distributors’ Association, also shared optimism, hopeful that the industry’s momentum will continue with an exciting lineup of releases in the coming years.
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