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Cinemas in the UK - Market Size, Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecasts (2025-2029)

Harry Dee Harry Dee London, United Kingdom Last Updated: May 2025 SIC UK-J5914

Revenue

£8.5bn

2025-26

£8.9bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£X.Xbn

Employees

94,955

Businesses

6,480

Wages

£X.Xbn

Cinemas in the UK industry analysis

The European cinema market has undergone a turbulent period over the past few years. First the pandemic froze productions and shut off venues, then the Hollywood strikes in 2023 caused a knock-on impact on film releases in 2024. With cinemas forced to close, revenue tanked in 2020 and cinemas have struggled to recover. Admissions in Europe reached just 841 million in 2024, which is 24% below the pre-pandemic average and a drop compared to 2023. The diminished admission rates have impaired cinemas' chances of full recovery from the pandemic. Over the five years through 2025, European cinema revenue is projected to rise at a compound annual rate of 7.2% to €8.5 billion. This is a far cry from the €13.8 billion the industry received in 2019.

Trends and Insights

  • Cinemas are on the back foot. They 've struggled to attract attendees, resulting in persistently low admissions and limited revenue, which remains far below 2019 levels.
  • Cinemas struggle with low admissions. They’re trying to increase revenue per admission to compensate for weak attendance numbers to reduce reliance on ticket sales alone.
  • Large chains dominate the industry. Major cinema chains make up the majority of revenue, though few brands operate across borders, which limits concentration.
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Top Questions Answered in this Report

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What is the market size of the Cinemas industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?

The market size of the Cinemas industry in the United Kingdom is £8.5bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Cinemas industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?

There are 6,480 businesses in the Cinemas industry in the United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.2 % between 2020 and 2025.

Has the Cinemas industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Cinemas industry in the United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 8.4 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Cinemas industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Cinemas industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What does the Cinemas industry in the United Kingdom include?

Film viewings and Food, beverage and merchandise are part of the Cinemas industry in the United Kingdom.

How competitive is the Cinemas industry in the United Kingdom?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Cinemas industry in the United Kingdom.

Everything you need in one report

  • Reliable market estimates from 2015-2030
  • Competitive analysis, industry segmentation, financial benchmarks
  • Powerful SWOT, Porter’s Five Forces and risk management frameworks
  • Online membership platform with PDF, Word, Excel and PPT exports

Table of Contents

External Environment

Highlights

Trends
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key Takeaways

Regulators determine the classification of productions. Each country has its own methods of classifying a production based on its suitability for audiences. Films with lots of violence or adult content may be limited to viewers aged 18 and over.

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External Drivers

Analysis

What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Cinemas in the UK industry?

Financial Benchmarks

Highlights

Trends
  • Profit Margin
  • Average Wage
  • Largest Cost

Key Takeaways

Self-service helps cinemas slash wage costs. The introduction of self-service ticket and concession kiosks has reduced cinemas' labour needs, supporting a drop in wage costs.

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Cost Structure

Charts
  • Share of Economy vs. Investment Matrix
  • Industry Cost Structure Benchmarks:
    • Marketing
    • Depreciation
    • Profit
    • Purchases
    • Wages
    • Rent
    • Utilities
    • Other
Analysis

What trends impact cost in the Cinemas in the UK industry?


Key Ratios

Data tables
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)

Country Benchmarks

European Leaders & Laggards

Data Tables

Top and bottom five countries listed for each:

  • Revenue Growth (2025)
  • Business Growth (2025)
  • Job Growth (2025)

European Country Performance

Data Tables

Rankings available for 37 countries. Statistics ranked include:

  • IVA/Revenue (2025)
  • Imports/Demand (2025)
  • Exports/Revenue (2025)
  • Revenue per Employee (2025)
  • Wages/Revenue (2025)
  • Employees per Establishment (2025)
  • Average Wage (2025)

Structural Comparison

Data Tables

Trends in 37 countries benchmarked against trends in Europe

  • Concentration
  • Competition
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Buyer Power
  • Supplier Power
  • Volatility
  • Capital Intensity
  • Innovation
  • Life Cycle

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Methodology

Where does IBISWorld source its data?

IBISWorld is a world-leading provider of business information, with reports on 5,000+ industries in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe and China. Our expert industry analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build an accurate picture of each industry.

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