Annual admissions – 1935 onwards
The table below shows trends in UK cinema admissions (millions) since 1935.
From an historic high immediately post-war of 1.64 billion in 1946, UK cinema admissions gradually declined to an all-time low of just 54 million in 1984.
Since that time, the advent of the multiplex, and record levels of investment in improving the theatrical experience (still ongoing), have seen admissions recover such that since 2000, they have remained (sometimes significantly so) above 150 million.
Source: IHS Markit
| Year | Admissions (m) |
|---|---|
| 1935 | 912.30 |
| 1936 | 917.00 |
| 1937 | 946.00 |
| 1938 | 987.00 |
| 1939 | 990.00 |
| 1940 | 1,027.00 |
| 1941 | 1,309.00 |
| 1942 | 1,494.00 |
| 1943 | 1,541.00 |
| 1944 | 1,575.00 |
| 1945 | 1,585.00 |
| 1946 | 1,635.00 |
| 1947 | 1,462.00 |
| 1948 | 1,514.00 |
| 1949 | 1,430.00 |
| 1950 | 1,395.80 |
| 1951 | 1,365.00 |
| 1952 | 1,312.10 |
| 1953 | 1,284.50 |
| 1954 | 1,275.80 |
| 1955 | 1,181.80 |
| 1956 | 1,100.80 |
| 1957 | 915.20 |
| 1958 | 754.70 |
| 1959 | 581.00 |
| 1960 | 500.80 |
| 1961 | 449.10 |
| 1962 | 395.00 |
| 1963 | 357.20 |
| 1964 | 342.80 |
| 1965 | 326.80 |
| 1966 | 288.80 |
| 1967 | 264.80 |
| 1968 | 237.30 |
| 1969 | 214.90 |
| 1970 | 193.00 |
| 1971 | 176.00 |
| 1972 | 156.60 |
| 1973 | 134.20 |
| 1974 | 138.50 |
| 1975 | 116.30 |
| 1976 | 103.90 |
| 1977 | 103.50 |
| 1978 | 126.10 |
| 1979 | 111.90 |
| 1980 | 101.00 |
| Year | Admissions (m) |
|---|---|
| 1981 | 86.0 |
| 1982 | 64.0 |
| 1983 | 65.7 |
| 1984 | 54.0 |
| 1985 | 72.0 |
| 1986 | 75.5 |
| 1987 | 78.5 |
| 1988 | 84.0 |
| 1989 | 94.5 |
| 1990 | 97.4 |
| 1991 | 100.3 |
| 1992 | 103.6 |
| 1993 | 114.4 |
| 1994 | 123.5 |
| 1995 | 114.6 |
| 1996 | 123.8 |
| 1997 | 139.3 |
| 1998 | 135.5 |
| 1999 | 139.8 |
| 2000 | 142.5 |
| 2001 | 155.9 |
| 2002 | 175.9 |
| 2003 | 167.2 |
| 2004 | 171.2 |
| 2005 | 164.6 |
| 2006 | 156.6 |
| 2007 | 162.5 |
| 2008 | 164.2 |
| 2009 | 173.5 |
| 2010 | 169.2 |
| 2011 | 171.6 |
| 2012 | 172.5 |
| 2013 | 165.5 |
| 2014 | 157.5 |
| 2015 | 171.5 |
| 2016 | 168.3 |
| 2017 | 170.6 |
| 2018 | 177.0 |
| 2019 | 176.1 |
| 2020 | 44.0 |
| 2021 | 74.0 |
| 2022 | 117.3 |