Box Office and TV Ratings Boost for British Films in 2004

Box Office and TV Ratings Boost for British Films in 2004

LONDON, March 11/PRNewswire/ --

- Harry Potter, Bridget Jones and Troy amongst top ten performers,
attendances top 170 million, and more recent UK films appearing
on terrestrial television

Well-loved characters Harry Potter and Bridget Jones and
historical epic Troy were the best performing British films at the UK box
office in 2004, there was a 45% increase in the takings of the top 20 British
films compared to 2003, and attendances increased to more than 170 million
over the year with July the most popular movie-going month, according to the
latest Statistical Bulletin from the UK Film Council.

British films' popularity at the box office was mirrored in
their TV ratings, with six of the ten most popular films shown on television
being recent British films (ie less than eight years old).

Prepared by the UK Film Council's Research and Statistics
Unit, the Bulletin, which will be published next week, reveals that:

Best performing films in UK cinemas in 2004

- The three best performing films at UK cinemas in 2004 were
all sequels, with Shrek 2 topping the box office charts with GBP48.1
million. As in 2003 there were three films with UK involvement in the top
10 British box office performers, (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of
Azkaban at number two which took GBP46.08 million, Bridget Jones: The Edge
of Reason at number three with GBP36 million, and Troy at number eight with
GBP18 million).

- The top 20 British films took GBP176.18 million between them at
the UK box office, a 45% increase compared to 2003's total of GBP121.63,
with the number of UK films taking more than GBP3 million at the box office
doubling from eight in 2003 to 16 in 2004. Four National Lottery funded
films were amongst the top 20 (Bride and Prejudice with GBP5.17 million,
Girl with a Pearl Earring with GBP3.84 million, Ladies in Lavender with
GBP3.16 million and 5 Children and It with GBP1.57 million).

Cinema attendances in 2004

- The year saw 171.3 million visits to the cinema, up 2.4 % on
2003's total of 167.3 million. The biggest increases came in June and
July, when visits rose by 56% and 48% respectively. As in 2003 the most
visits (by TV region) were made in London (44.1 million), the Midlands
(23.8 million) and Lancashire (18.5 million), and the fewest in the
Border area (1.6 million). The most popular months for cinema going were
July (18.4 million visits) and August (17.4 million), and the least
popular September (10.2 million) and March (10.7 million);

Films on UK television in 2004

- The increasing popularity of British films at the box office
was mirrored on TV, with six of the top 10 performing films on TV in 2004
being UK certified films. The most watched film was Shrek (US) with 9.5
million viewers, whilst the most popular British film on UK television
was Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone which drew in 8.4 million
viewers.

- Of the top ten most watched British films on UK television
nine were recent British films, and all ten recorded viewing figures
substantially above the average peak time film audience figures for any
of the five main terrestrial channels. ITV recorded the best average
audience for peak time films in 2004 with 3,213,188 viewers, followed by
BBC1 with 3,084,585.

- The year saw a drop of 4.4% in the total number of films
broadcast on channels 1 to 5, but sizeable increases in the number of
recent British films shown on BBC1 (up by 35%), BBC2 (up 220%) and
Channel 4 (up by 120%). ITV1 and Five both showed fewer recent British
films, recording drops of 25% and 33.3% respectively. Overall, the
proportion of recent UK films shown on channels 1 to 5 increased from
2.8% of the total films shown in 2003 to 5.3% in 2004.

Film production in the UK in 2004

- As revealed in January 2004 film production levels dropped
substantially on 2003's record year, although 2004 was still the second
best year ever for production spending in the UK. There were reductions
in both the number of films made (down from 173 in 2003 to 132 in 2004)
and the amount spent in the UK on their production (down from GBP1.157
billion in 2003 to GBP808 million in 2004).

- Of the 85 co-productions (films made involving work in more
than one country) which did not involve Hollywood studios, the UK was the
major funder of 18 features, a larger proportion than 2003, when the UK
was majority funder of 18 of the year's 99 co-productions.

- The most frequent locations for the shooting of (non-studio
related) UK co-productions were the UK (17), France (8), Spain (8),
Canada (6), Luxembourg (6), and Germany and Romania (5 each).

Commenting on the figures UK Film Council's Chief Executive
Officer John Woodward said;

"Film is a hugely important part of our culture, and going to
the cinema continues to be one of the UK's most popular leisure pursuits.
Whilst the success of blockbusters such as Harry Potter will always grab the
headlines, the increase in box office takings for small to medium sized
British films is extremely encouraging and a testament to the depth of talent
in our film industry.

"This study shows that there is an undoubted demand to see UK
films, not only from cinemagoers but from television viewers as well. Whilst
there have been impressive improvements in the number of recent British films
being shown on some television channels, there needs to be an equally
significant improvement in the amount of money invested in film production,
particularly by the BBC.

"As the recent Government Green Paper on the BBC Charter
underlined, the BBC needs a proper film investment strategy to ensure that
the best British films are shown to a wider television audience. As the prime
public service broadcaster, the BBC should lead the way in investing in the
production, acquisition, and scheduling of new British films."

Notes to Editors:

1. The March Research and Statistic Bulletin will be available on
www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk/statistics/ from Wednesday 16 March. Relevant tables
include:

- Best performing films in the UK in 2004

Box office results for the top 20 films released in the UK in 2004

Title Country Box office Number Opening Distributor
of origin gross of opening weekend
(GBPm) cinemas gross
(GBPm)

1 Shrek 2 USA 48.10 512 16.22 UIP

2 Harry Potter
and the
Prisoner of Azkaban UK/USA 46.08 535 23.88 Warner Bros

3 Bridget Jones:
The Edge
of Reason UK/USA 36.00 504 10.44 UIP

4 (x)The Incredibles USA 32.04 (xx)494 (xx)9.75 Buena Vista

5 Spider-Man 2 USA 26.72 504 8.77 Sony
Pictures

6 The Day After
Tomorrow USA 25.21 429 7.32 20th Fox

7 Shark Tale USA 22.82 504 7.55 UIP

8 Troy UK/USA/Mal 18.00 (xx)504 (xx)6.02 Warner Bros

9 I, Robot USA 17.98 447 4.75 20th Fox

10 Scooby-Doo Too USA 16.49 489 3.55 Warner Bros

Top 20 UK films released in the UK in 2004

Title Country Box office Distributor
of origin gross
(GBP million)

1 Harry Potter and the
Prisoner of Azkaban UK/USA 46.08 Warner Bros

2 Bridget Jones:
The Edge of Reason UK/USA 36.00 UIP

3 Troy UK/USA/Malta 18.00 Warner Bros

4 (x)Phantom of
the Opera UK/USA 8.90 Entertainment

5 Wimbledon UK/USA 7.17 UIP

6 King Arthur UK/USA/Ire 7.07 Buena Vista

7 Shaun of the Dead UK 6.69 UIP

8 Thunderbirds UK/USA 5.43 UIP

9 Bride and Prejudice UK/USA 5.17 Pathé

10 Alien Vs. Predator UK/Cze/Can/Ger 5.15 20th Fox

11 Alfie UK/USA 4.71 UIP

12 Layer Cake UK 4.45 Sony Pictures

13 Around the World
in 80 Days UK/USA/Ger/Ire 4.15 Entertainment

14 Girl with a
Pearl Earring UK/Lux 3.84 Pathé

15 (x)Finding Neverland UK/USA 3.54 Buena Vista

16 Ladies in Lavender UK 3.16 Entertainment

17 Resident Evil:
Apocalypse UK/Ger/Fra/Can 1.97 Sony Pictures

18 Tooth UK 1.68 Redbus

19 5 Children & It UK 1.57 Pathé

20 Man About Dog UK/Ire 1.45 Redbus

Source: Nielsen EDI, RSU analysis

Box office gross = cumulative total up to 6 February 2005

Films with a (x) were still being exhibited on 6 February 2005

- Cinema attendances in the UK in 2004

Monthly admissions in 2004
Month 2003 (million) 2004 (million) % +/- on 2003

January 16.3 15.3 -6.1
February 15.0 13.3 -11.3
March 10.4 10.7 2.9
April 12.4 14.5 16.9
May 13.8 13.1 -5.1
June 9.4 14.7 56.4
July 12.4 18.4 48.4
August 17.1 17.4 1.8
September 10.7 10.2 -4.7
October 17.3 14.5 -16.2
November 13.7 14.6 6.6
December 18.8 14.6 -22.3
Total 167.3 171.3 2.4

Source: CAA, Nielsen EDI

Cinema admissions by TV region in 2004

Region Admissions %

London 44,167,622 25.8

Midlands 23,815,122 13.9

Lancashire 18,510,635 10.8

Southern 16,049,695 9.4

Yorkshire 14,000,843 8.2

Central Scotland 11,877,406 6.9

East Of England 11,177,253 6.5

Wales & West 11,062,140 6.5

North East 6,333,938 3.7

Northern Ireland 5,387,965 3.1

South West 3,771,656 2.23

Northern Scotland 3,430,244 2.0

Border 1,667,547 1.0

Total 171,252,066 100.0

Source: CAA/Nielsen EDI

- Films on Channels 1 - 5 in 2004

Number of recent (made within the last 8 years) U
UK films broadcast in 2004

Channel 2003 2004 % change
BBC1 20 27 +35.0
BBC2 15 48 +220.0
ITV1 12 9 - 25.0
Channel 4 15 33 +120.0
Five 3 2 -33.3
Total 65 119 +83.1

Source: DGA Metrics, BARB

Number of recent UK films as percentage of total films
broadcast in 2004

Channel 2003 2004 % change
BBC1 4.6 6.2 +34.8
BBC2 3.3 9.6 +190.9
ITV1 3.9 3.3 -15.4
Channel 4 2.6 6.5 +150.0
Five 0.5 0.4 -20.0
Total 2.8 5.3 +89.3
Source: DGA Metrics, BARB

Top 10 films on network television in 2004
Rank Title Channel Country Year of Audience
of origin theatrical (million)
release

1 Shrek BBC1 USA 2001 9.5
2 What Women Want BBC1 USA 2000 8.9
3 Unbreakable ITV1 USA 2000 8.7
4 Harry Potter and
the Philosopher's
Stone BBC1 UK/USA 2001 8.4
5 Die Another Day ITV1 UK/USA 2002 7.5
6 Lara Croft:
Tomb Raider BBC1 UK/USA 2001 7.0
7 About a Boy ITV1 UK/USA 2002 6.9
8 What Lies Beneath ITV1 USA 2000 6.8
9 The World is
Not Enough ITV1 UK/USA 1999 6.7

10 Bridget Jones's
Diary Channel 4 UK/USA 2001 6.5

Source: DGA Metrics, BARB

Top 10 UK-originated films on network television in 2004

Rank Title Channel Country Year of Audience
of origin theatrical (million)
release

1 Harry Potter and
the Philosopher's
Stone BBC1 UK/USA 2001 8.4
2 Die Another Day ITV1 UK/USA 2002 7.5
3 Lara Croft:
Tomb Raider BBC1 UK/USA/Ger 2001 7.0
4 About a Boy ITV1 UK/USA 2002 6.9
5 The World is
Not Enough ITV1 UK/USA 1999 6.7
6 Bridget
Jones's Diary Channel 4 UK/USA 2001 6.5
7 The Italian Job BBC1 UK 1969 5.1
8 The Mummy Returns ITV1 UK/USA 2001 4.9
9 Tomorrow Never Dies ITV1 UK/USA 1997 4.7
10 Notting Hill Channel 4 UK/USA 1999 4.3

2. The UK Film Council is the lead agency for film in the UK
ensuring that the economic, cultural and educational aspects of film are
effectively represented at home and abroad. We invest Government grant-in-aid
and Lottery money in film development and production; training; international
development and export promotion; distribution and exhibition; and education.
Our aim is to deliver lasting benefits to the industry and the public alike
through:

- creativity - encouraging the development of new talent, skills, and
creative and technological innovation in UK film and assisting new and
established film-makers to produce successful and distinctive British films;

- enterprise - supporting the creation and growth of sustainable
businesses in the film sector, providing access to finance and helping the UK
film industry compete successfully in the domestic and global marketplace;

- imagination - promoting education and an appreciation and enjoyment of
cinema by giving UK audiences access to the widest range of UK and
international cinema, and by supporting film culture and heritage.

Source: UK Film Council

For press information contact: Caroline Nagle/Iain Hepplewhite, UK Film Council Press Office, T: +44(0)20-7861-7508/7505, E: press@ukfilmcouncil.org.uk

-------
Profile: intent