On the big screen – is it still relevant?

I love a trip to the cinema. I find it exciting to go see the latest releases on the big screen but its no denying that cinema trips are expensive and sometimes its cheaper and easier to stay home and watch Netflix.

In post war Britain cinema audiences reached record numbers. In 1946 cinema audiences reached an annual figure of 1.64 billion (stats from cinemauk.org.uk). After this peak cinema audiences gradually began to decline annually year on year to low of 54 million in 1984. 2018 saw a new high for cinema admissions. 177 million cinema admissions were reported in 2018, and admissions have been growing steadily each year since the 1980s. (Stats from cinemauk.org.uk)

I did a quick poll amongst my Facebook friends to see if this trend was reflected. Of the people who replied 73% visited the cinema on a regular basis. So in this era were we can watch films at home on gigantic cinema like tv’s on the plethora of steaming services what motivates people to still go to the cinema.

The BFI (British Film Institute) reported that a combination of Hollywood blockbusters from the likes of Marvel Studio’s as well as UK independent films such as “Darkest Hour” made 2018 such a great year for cinema. I spoke to a fellow film lover Kate Smith on why she loves to visit the cinema. She said “I like going to the cinema because it’s not only an activity that me and my brother both have in common (we both have unlimited cards) so we make sure to go at least once a week together and it’s a way that we get to spend time together, but it also the complete immersion of being in a cinema that you just don’t get watching the film on a DVD or Netflix. The whole aspect of buying the tickets, getting the snacks and taking your seat still feels so special even at 19, with an unlimited card, the novelty of the cinema hasn’t worn off on me yet!” When I asked Kate why she spends her disposable income on her unlimited card, which enables her to see as many films as she wants for a one off monthly cost, Kate remarked “I try to go to the cinema at least 2/3 times a week, so the unlimited card is not only a money saver (last year I saved £75) but the added bonuses of the money off the snacks, and money off restaurants near by is also amazing! As a film lover, and someone who regularly attends the cinema I think they’re a great investment!”

So it seems that going to the pictures is still a pastime that is relevant and with the amazing films that are due to be released in 2019 the trend will hopefully continue.