About the market:

After the disappointment of 2003, admissions to UK in 2004 cinemas rose to 171.3 million. This makes it the second most successful year since the start of the 1970s. As would be expected, the largest proportion of cinema turnover comes from box office takings with £770.3 million. The number of screens in the UK continues to increase, up to 3,486 in 2005, although the number of sites has stalled at 771.

The most important driver behind the cinema market is the movies themselves. Box offices received a tremendous boost in recent years due to the popularity of the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings franchises. Evidently, cinema audiences continue to value familiarity, with the top films in 2004 and 2005 consisting largely of sequels, remakes and adaptations. As top titles tipped for the top in 2006 such as ‘The Da Vinci Code’ and the “Pirates of the Caribbean’ sequel build on this concept, Mintel predicts continuing success for the market.

About Mintel’s report:

Mintel’s new market intelligence report provides the user with a fresh insight into a product-driven market.

Compiling together the most sought-after trend data and authoritative, independent market analysis, it offers you a vital way of fully understanding the UK market for cinemas. It also offers you unique findings from exclusive consumer research; invaluable information that will enable you to tailor your business to real consumer demand. Mintel’s research report has been designed to help you:

Monitor the UK cinema market’s success, segment by segment

Catch up on the latest trends across cinema screens

Pinpoint market potential before your competitors

Assess consumers’ distinctive attitudes towards cinema and film and tailor your offer accordingly

Explore consumer brand loyalty in the market

Identify key target audiences and how best to communicate with them

Understand the impact of greater release elasticity on the market

Evaluate to what degree an extension of the product mix could satisfy consumer needs

Determine your business position in a market facing calm after the storm

Measure market performance forecasts.

Intriguing findings include:

While 28% of cinema-goers prefer modern multiplex cinemas and 10% prefer independent/arthouse cinemas, this leaves 62% who are open to suggestion.

35% of consumers in the third age and retired category claim they never visit cinemas.

20% of respondents consider cinema tickets to be too expensive.