2009 Best UK Box Office Since 2002

According to figures released by the UK Film Council 2009 was a succesful year for British cinemas with films such as Harry Potter, Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire and James Cameron's futuristic Avatar all making 2009 the best year for cinemas since 2002.

The news comes as a suprise to the many who predicted the slow death of cinema. In the UK last year, cinema admissions hit 173.5m and the combined box office takings in the UK and Ireland exceeded £1bn for the first time.

The messages were more mixed for film production. While there was the highest ever level of inward investment – that is, largely Hollywood films made in the UK – the amount spent on co-productions fell to a low of £35m, compared to £169m in 2003. In terms of film numbers, there were 22 co-productions in the UK in 2009 compared to 106 in 2003.

The UKFC says that is a result of "the one flaw" in the film tax credit scheme introduced by Labour: that films have to be made in the UK, and that a co-production filmed in another country does not get tax relief. The figures also show a drop in market share for British films, down to 16.5% from 31% in 2008 – although that was a particularly strong year because of films including Mamma Mia! and Quantum of Solace.

British independent films, however, took their biggest market share of the decade – 8.5% – helped by Slumdog Millionaire, St Trinian's 2 and In the Loop.

(Source The Guardian)