UK cinema takings up

Cinema takings in the UK have hit a record high thanks to a series of box-office blockbusters. Admissions rose 1.1 per cent to 164.2 million in 2008 with box-office takings up 3.7 per cent to £854.4 million. Films such as Mamma Mia! and The Dark Knight helped push sales to the record levels of 1969. According to the Film Distributors’ Association UK, the recession has done little to affect cinema attendance, while falling media costs have saved distributors money marketing films with £305 million spent last year promoting 531 films, down £9 million on 2007.