U.K. Audiences Keen to Return to Cinemas Post-Lockdown, Survey Finds

Authored by variety.com and submitted by Sisiwakanamaru

The U.K. public is keen to return to cinemas, a survey has found, with 59% of respondents citing the cinema as their most missed out-of-home entertainment activity.

A U.K.-wide survey commissioned by the Film Distributors’ Association and carried out by research agency Metrixlab also revealed that 40% of audiences are planning to return within the first few weeks after reopening and a further 36% within the first couple of months.

U.K. drive-in cinemas are currently due to reopen April 12 and indoor screens from May 17. The research shows that those who have digitally rented or purchased films over the past year are the most likely to return to cinemas as soon as they reopen.

The survey also looked into cinemagoers’ impressions of the brief period between lockdowns in 2020 when movie theaters reopened for a few months. It found that 93% of cinemagoers who returned enjoyed an overwhelmingly positive experience, while 99% were satisfied with the health and safety measures at their local cinema.

Cinema First is the cross-industry body charged with the promotion of cinemagoing in the U.K. Its core constituents are the Film Distributors’ Association, representing U.K. film distributors, and the U.K. Cinema Association, representing U.K. cinema operators.

Iain Jacob, Cinema First chair, said: “After a long period of lockdown, it’s great to see that such a large proportion of the public can’t wait to come back to the cinema. Our research has confirmed what we had hoped: after being at home on lockdown since December, we are all keen to escape to the cinema to experience the magic that only comes from watching a film on the big screen. Cinemas across the U.K. are thrilled to be opening their doors again and safely welcoming back film fans and resuming the thriving culture of cinemagoing.”

shelcod on April 8th, 2021 at 14:50 UTC »

I live in a fairly small city that somehow managed to get a very nice movie theater about a decade ago and it potentially closing down is my biggest fear of the pandemic.

I do not want Sonic the Hedgehog to be the last movie I saw in theaters...

BurnedRope on April 8th, 2021 at 12:25 UTC »

Due to my shift pattern I really loved going to the cinema because more often than not I'd be visiting when it is less busy.

More often than not there'd be no more than half a dozen people in the room. Perfect.

professionalcynic1 on April 8th, 2021 at 11:02 UTC »

I need to be in my seat again and just before the film starts get startled by Mark Strong telling me "Hello, makes you notice doesn’t it, a little bit of darkness. Refines the senses."