The UK cinema sector is looking ahead to 2015 with unprecedented optimism given the extraordinarily strong film slate awaiting cinema-goers.
After a year in which both box office and admissions dipped slightly – a final figure of £1,057,683,837 representing an annual drop of around 2.4 per cent, and 157,499,641, 4.9 per cent down on 2013 – UK cinema operators nevertheless enter 2015 with expectations high.
Buoyed by a strong finish to 2014, where Paddington and The Hobbit: the Battle of the Five Armies performed exceptionally well, audiences can look forward to what is possibly the strongest slate for many years right across the next twelve months.
The early months of the year will see a number of BAFTA-nominated films competing for audience attention, including highly-anticipated titles such as The Theory of Everything, Birdman, Into the Woods and Foxcatcher.
But that strong start is just the beginning of a year which boasts a dizzying wide range of potentially huge films such as The Avengers: Age of Ultron, Inside Out, Spectre, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2; Star Wars: The Force Awakens; The Good Dinosaur, Fifty Shades of Grey, Jurassic World, Terminator Genisys and Mission: Impossible 5, amongst others.
Commenting on the year ahead, CEA Chief Executive Phil Clapp said:
“I cannot recall a time when the industry has been as excited about an upcoming film slate as it is now. Every month in 2015 we will see films released that people will talk about and want to see again and again. That includes not just the recognised franchises, but also importantly a large number of new stories which will appeal to audiences of all ages.
After what was undoubtedly a challenging 2014, we have already begun the new year on a ‘bounce’ something which we look forward to seeing continue for months to come.”
The Top 10 films for 2014 can be found in