UK Enjoys Biggest Cinemagoing Weekend Of 2008 To Date

Film Distributors' Association (FDA), the trade body representing the interests of UK theatrical film distributors, has announced that the UK has just enjoyed the biggest cinemagoing weekend of the year so far - despite it also being the hottest and sunniest.
Over the three days Friday-Sunday, 25–27 July, 3.19 million people went to the cinema across the UK, overhauling the previous best weekend of 2008, 4–6 July (3.04 million people).
The top 5 films of the weekend, 25–27 July, were: 'The Dark Knight (in its first weekend of release), 'Mamma Mia!' (third weekend), 'WALL-E' (second weekend), 'Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging' (also in its opening weekend) and 'Hancock' (fourth weekend).
The cinemagoing surge in July follows a strong performance in June. UK admissions in June 2008 - 11.8 million tickets purchased - were 5% higher than in June 2007, thanks largely to the pulling power of 'Sex and the City' and 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull'.
FDA Chief Executive, Mark Batey, said: "Even on the most sweltering weekend of the year to date, with temperatures topping 30ºC in parts of the country, not to mention the widely felt economic downturn, it's really thrilling that well over three million people enjoyed the greatest escape - to their local cinema. The movies offer the most immersive - and comfortable - way to experience fantastic stories, and with the school holidays just starting, these new figures bode well for a wonderful season in UK cinemas."
The diverse line-up for August includes: 'The Fox and the Child', 'Get Smart',' Hellboy 2: The Golden Army', 'The Love Guru', 'Man on Wire', 'The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor', 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars' and 'X-Files: I Want to Believe'.
Further information about the FDA is available at: www.launchingfilms.com.
(KMcA/JM)