Cinemas participating in Saturday’s National Cinema Day have reported record-breaking admissions at their venues.
Figures released by box office analysts Comscore confirm that Saturday September 3 saw over 1.46 million UK cinema admissions. This is around three times the number normally seen for the same day in the most recent pre-COVID years,and also exceeds the record of 1.34 million set by the last UK event of its kind, a £1 Cinema Day held back in 1997.
Enticed by a bargain ticket price of just £3 but also by a diverse programme of current and recent film releases as well as much-loved classics, cinema-goers across the UK responded in huge numbers to the invitation to celebrate the unique big screen experience.
Audiences across the North were well served on the day with major multiplexes, smaller chains and several indies all taking part, and the best-performing titles on the day included Minions: The Rise Of Gru, DC League Of Super-Pets and Top Gun: Maverick, as well as the 40th anniversary re-release of the classic ET.
National Cinema Day was developed by the cross-industry body Cinema First and supported by the Film Distributors’ Association and the UK Cinema Association. Iain Jacob, Chair of Cinema First, said: “The appeal to audiences of the true cinema experience is universal, enduring and deep rooted. We wanted to celebrate this with a ‘big thank’ you to audiences and a great offer for everybody in the UK. People clearly really loved our inaugural National Cinema Day. By combining the joy of cinema with an amazingly accessible price we are proud to have supported our audiences at this incredibly challenging time.”
