Cinema Attendance Declines due to High Ticket Prices and Lack of Appealing Releases

A BFI Report Reveals the Main Barriers to Cinema Attendance in the UK

A recent report by the British Film Institute (BFI) has found that high ticket prices and a lack of appealing releases are the main barriers to cinema attendance in the UK. According to the report, over a third (34%) of respondents cited the cost of tickets as the main reason they did not go to the cinema in the past year, while a similar proportion (30%) said they did not have enough appealing films to choose from.

The report also found that while 95% of UK adults have watched at least one film in the past year, the majority (65%) have watched films predominantly on streaming platforms. However, 44% of film viewers said they are willing to wait for a film to become available on a streaming service rather than going to the cinema when it is first released.

Demographics of Cinemagoers

Compared to a UK population benchmark percentage, cinema audiences for independent and foreign films in the study were more likely to be male (59% versus 49%), of AB socio-economic grade (40% versus 26%), aged 16-34 (48% versus 34%), have a university degree or equivalent qualification (62% versus 36%), and live in London (22% versus 12%).

Key Findings

* 34% of respondents cited the cost of tickets as the main reason they did not go to the cinema in the past year.
* 30% said they did not have enough appealing films to choose from.
* 65% of film viewers watch films predominantly on streaming platforms.
* 44% of film viewers are willing to wait for a film to become available on a streaming service rather than going to the cinema when it is first released.
* 86% of UK adults watch films monthly and 59% watch at least one film a week.
* 60% of respondents reported having been to a cinema in the past 12 months.
* The average number of times cinemagoers visited a cinema in the 12 months prior to the research being undertaken was 4.5 times.

Conclusion

The BFI report highlights the challenges faced by cinemas in the UK, with high ticket prices and a lack of appealing releases being major barriers to attendance. While streaming platforms remain popular, the report suggests that a majority of adults are still willing to visit cinemas if they have appealing films to choose from.

FAQs

* What is the main barrier to cinema attendance in the UK?
+ High ticket prices and a lack of appealing releases.
* What proportion of respondents cited the cost of tickets as the main reason they did not go to the cinema in the past year?
+ 34%.
* How many film viewers watch films predominantly on streaming platforms?
+ 65%.
* Are film viewers willing to wait for a film to become available on a streaming service rather than going to the cinema when it is first released?
+ 44%.
* What is the average number of times cinemagoers visited a cinema in the 12 months prior to the research being undertaken?
+ 4.5 times.