08/02/2022 - The figures provided by the British Film Institute reveal a record £5.64 billion film and high-end TV production spend in the country, and a promising trend in terms of cinemagoing

Against all odds, 2021 has been an impressive year for the UK film industry. The figures disclosed by the British Film Institute (BFI) last week reveal an impressive £5.64 billion film and high-end TV production spend in the country – the highest ever, £1.27 billion higher than 2019 – as well as a promising trend in terms of cinemagoing with 74 million admissions and £602 million box office revenues following several months of closure.

In detail, the statistics show that “April to June was the business part of the production year with £2.29 billion of film and high-end television production spend, the highest 3-month period for film and high-end TV spend on record, outstripping £1.54 billion generated July to September 2019.”

Moreover, inward investment and co-production films and high-end TV shows delivered £4.77 billion, or 84% of the production. High-end TV shows accounted for £3.44 billion, or 72%, of the combined total spend, whilst features contributed £1.33 billion, or 28% of the same.

Inward investment film spend of £1.27 billion is 4% down on 2020. However, as a number of films started production in 2020 and carried on in 2021, their spend is accounted for in the 2020 statistics.

Last year’s figures also highlight the growing investments made by streamers in single long-form productions: “In 2021, there were 36 single domestic UK and inward investment productions which contributed £737 million to the high-end TV spend of £4.09 billion. These productions include Pinocchio, Matilda: The Musical, Persuasion and Lady Chatterley’s Lover,” states the report.

In terms of box office and cinemagoing trends, the country recorded 74 million admissions (+68% on 2020’s admissions). It is worthwhile mentioning that the first four months of the year were marked by cinemas being closed and reopening took place only from early May.

Nonetheless, the box office generated by all films on release in the UK and the Republic of Ireland in 2021 was £602 million, a 144% increase on the £247 million in 2020, with Cary Joji Fukunaga’s No Time To Die [+see also:
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“The record-breaking level of film and TV production in the UK revealed today is good news for our industry and the UK economy and demonstrates the speed of the sector’s recovery. The groundwork for further growth is underway with expansion of studio spaces and production hot spots across our nations and regions, and working with industry to build up the skilled workforce that we need to meet demand and stay on top of our game. Government support for production with the screen sector tax reliefs and the Film & TV Production Restart Scheme have played an important part in the industry’s growth and recovery. The Culture Recovery Fund has been a lifeline for independent cinemas and it’s great to see audiences returning to the big screen with Bond and Spider-Man leading the way with phenomenal success and independent UK films, such as Spencer [+see also:
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