UK and Ireland cinema attendance has surged to its highest levels since the pandemic, with blockbuster hit A Minecraft Movie topping the box office for 2025, raking in a staggering £56.88 million.
According to Comscore figures, UK and Irish cinema revenues reached an impressive £1.07 billion last year, representing a modest 1% increase from 2024's total of £1.06 billion. The number of films released also recovered, with 1,092 titles hitting screens in 2025 compared to 1,124 in 2024.
The recovery is attributed, in part, to the production pipeline bouncing back after years of disruption, including a pandemic-induced pause and industry strikes in 2023. Interestingly, however, it appears that cinemas are adopting a more cautious approach, with the number of "saturation" releases – films playing in over 250 venues simultaneously – up from 188 in 2019 to 224 last year.
The UK's box office landscape is dominated by gaming adaptations and event cinema releases, with A Minecraft Movie leading the way. The film's viral success, including a memorable scene featuring a chicken jockey, propelled it to the top of the charts, taking $423.9 million at the North American box office and $958.3 million globally.
Other notable performances include the fourth Bridget Jones film, which finished in second place with £46.4 million, and Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, which secured third spot with £18.4 million. "Event cinema" releases, which typically attract large audiences, also performed well, with 10 films exceeding £1 million and the stage production of Six the Musical amassing a respectable £6.2 million.
The UK Cinema Association's CEO, Phil Clapp, hailed 2025 as a significant milestone in the sector's recovery from recent challenges, predicting further progress in the coming months. Despite modest growth, the figures suggest that cinemas are finding their footing once more and looking forward to a brighter future.
According to Comscore figures, UK and Irish cinema revenues reached an impressive £1.07 billion last year, representing a modest 1% increase from 2024's total of £1.06 billion. The number of films released also recovered, with 1,092 titles hitting screens in 2025 compared to 1,124 in 2024.
The recovery is attributed, in part, to the production pipeline bouncing back after years of disruption, including a pandemic-induced pause and industry strikes in 2023. Interestingly, however, it appears that cinemas are adopting a more cautious approach, with the number of "saturation" releases – films playing in over 250 venues simultaneously – up from 188 in 2019 to 224 last year.
The UK's box office landscape is dominated by gaming adaptations and event cinema releases, with A Minecraft Movie leading the way. The film's viral success, including a memorable scene featuring a chicken jockey, propelled it to the top of the charts, taking $423.9 million at the North American box office and $958.3 million globally.
Other notable performances include the fourth Bridget Jones film, which finished in second place with £46.4 million, and Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, which secured third spot with £18.4 million. "Event cinema" releases, which typically attract large audiences, also performed well, with 10 films exceeding £1 million and the stage production of Six the Musical amassing a respectable £6.2 million.
The UK Cinema Association's CEO, Phil Clapp, hailed 2025 as a significant milestone in the sector's recovery from recent challenges, predicting further progress in the coming months. Despite modest growth, the figures suggest that cinemas are finding their footing once more and looking forward to a brighter future.
! Cinema attendance is back on track and A Minecraft Movie is killing it! £56.88 million is insane 
! I was wondering how they'd bounce back after the pandemic, but it looks like cinemas are being cautious but still bringing the heat 
. Gaming adaptations are taking over, which makes sense since gaming's so huge right now 
. Bridget Jones and Downton Abbey also did well, but let's be real, who doesn't love a good Minecraft movie? 
And those event cinema releases are lit! Can't wait to see what 2026 brings 
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i ended up watching every single movie on amazon prime lol anyway back to 2025, a minecraft movie is literally the most iconic thing EVER 
it's amazing how gaming adaptations are killing it in box office 
btw have you guys seen the trailer?
It's interesting to note that cinemas are being more cautious with their releases now, maybe it's because they learned from past mistakes. The fact that event cinema releases did well too is a good sign for the industry 
I'm excited to see what 2026 brings! 
. And don't even get me started on A Minecraft Movie, who thought making a movie about kids building blocks was a good idea? 
It's like they took every leftover gamer trope and mashed them into one boring film. The real winners are the bean counters, raking in that sweet £56.88 million 
£1.07 billion is not bad at all considering the pandemic and strikes u guys got your act together now 
btw i want to see minecraft movie for my nephew he's obsessed with it lol
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and that six musical stage show was also super cool 
u know wot would be awesome tho if we cud get some uk student films in cinemas rn thats what i'd pay 2 see 
. And yeah, I guess 1% growth isn't bad for an industry that's still trying to get back on its feet. But seriously though, I wish they'd focus on more unique experiences in cinemas... event cinema releases are great and all, but how many times can we rewatch Six the Musical? 
And those "saturation" releases are starting to feel like a thing – do we really need that many copies of the same movie playing at the same time? It's just so... formulaic. Can't they think outside the box (or cinema screen)? 
But what I think is really cool is that cinemas are being more cautious now, releasing fewer films at once. That makes sense, considering all the drama with production pipelines and strikes. It's like they're saying, "Okay, let's focus on quality over quantity for a bit." And it seems to be paying off! Gaming adaptations are doing well, but event cinema releases are also killing it 
The Bridget Jones film is looking good too, and I'm curious to see what other movies will come out this year. Overall, it's exciting to see cinemas recovering from those tough times and moving forward with optimism 
The fact that event cinema releases are doing so well is also a good sign. More big-name productions coming up, please! 