Latest figures confirm that, despite the challenges presented by the impact of US strikes on the film slate, UK cinema admissions for 2024 finished up on 2023, heralding a remarkable recovery in the final months of the year.
The Cinema Advertising Association has confirmed the final admissions figure for the year as 126,514,784, so 2.3 per cent up on the previous year.
While the first half of the year enjoyed strong performances from titles such as Dune: Part Two, the ongoing impact of the previous Autumn’s strikes undoubtedly saw fewer major films released, and it was only in the Summer months that admissions truly started to pick up, with Inside Out 2, Deadpool & Wolverine and Despicable Me 4 in particular enjoying major success.
However, despite this positive news, the UK sector still entered the final two months of the year 7 per cent adrift on admissions at the same point in 2023, with much ground to be made up.
The releases of Paddington in Peru, Gladiator 2, Wicked, Moana 2, Mufasa: The Lion King and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 during that period however confirmed the long-held belief that when the films are there, audiences will return.
While November admissions were an incredible 77 per cent up on the same month in 2023, December saw 15,679,232 admissions, up almost 36 per cent on the previous year and proving to be the biggest cinema-going month of 2024.
While modest, the overall increase in admissions of 2.3 per cent on 2023 saw the UK sector out-perform not just the US but also all other major European film territories.
Welcoming these latest figures, Iain Jacob, Chair of the cross-industry body Cinema First, said:
‘Cinema retains a unique position in the hearts of the public, combining a unique social experience with sheer joy and escapism. When great films are combined with all of the investments we have seen in the modern cinema environment, audiences follow their passion for a fantastic trip out. In November and December alone audiences were up by over 52 per cent.
Looking at 2025, we have a fantastic slate including Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, Captain America: Brave New World, Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning, 28 Years Later, F1, Superman, Wicked: For Goodand Avatar: Fire and Ash to look forward to, with the best ever sound, seating and food and drink options on offer to audiences.
2025 will be a big year for UK cinema.’