U.K. Cinema Admissions Rebound as Original Films Drive Recovery
Cinema attendance in the U.K. and Ireland is up 21 percent compared with 2025, according to a BFI London Film Festival industry panel. Programmers from Curzon, Picturehouse and BFI IMAX said original films now account for 12 of the year’s top 20 releases, a sharp increase from previous years. They attributed the rebound to audience appetite for varied genres and filmmaker-driven stories.
At a BFI London Film Festival industry forum, Screen International’s Charles Gant moderated a discussion with programmers from Curzon, Picturehouse and BFI IMAX. They noted U.K. and Ireland cinema attendance is 21 percent higher than in 2025.
The panel said 12 of this year’s 20 biggest releases are original films, compared with an average of fewer than five across the prior five years. A24’s Backrooms set a regional opening record for an original horror title, while BFI IMAX was the world’s top IMAX screen in 2026.
The rebound may give exhibitors and independent distributors more confidence to schedule varied films, potentially widening choices for audiences beyond franchise sequels. If original titles keep drawing crowds, filmmakers and smaller studios could gain leverage, while cinemas might invest further in premium formats and event programming. Yet these gains may depend on sustained audience habits and could remain uneven across regions and venues.