BRITISH FILM INDUSTRY SCORES BIG TIME
Copyright 2004 www.tombraiderchronicles.com

[ July 21st 2004 ]

Good news for the British film industry this week as new figures released by the UK Film Council showed record levels of production last year, in tandem with the second highest figure in cinema admissions in 30 years. In addition, the 10 most successful UK films last year raked in over $1bn worldwide between them, despite the absence of a Bond or Potter film. The best performers were Love Actually ($185m), Johnny English ($158m), and Lara Croft Tomb Raider 2: the Cradle of Life ($156m).

The statistics found that 173 British films were produced last year, more than double the total of the previous year, despite worries that the closure of a tax loophole connected with film financing earlier this year would destroy UK film production. Admissions to British cinemas came in at 167.3m visits, ringing up box office receipts of £742m, the second highest figure in 30 years and an increase of 136% over the last decade. One in four people say they attend the cinemas at least once a month. The film and video industries now employ over 57,000 people, an increase of 77% in the last decade, as compared with the 13% increase in the overall UK workforce over the same period.