UK and Ireland Cinema Takings Reach a Post-Covid Peak as The Minecraft Film Tops 2025 Box Office

Cinema revenue across Britain and Ireland has seen its highest annual performance in the post-Covid era, with A Minecraft Movie finishing 2025 as the top-earning film of the year.

A Gradual Climb in Earnings

Figures released by box-office analysts show that box office revenue in the UK and Ireland totalled £1.07bn. This represents an increase of 1% on 2024’s total of £1.06bn. At the same time, there was a slight decrease in the volume of films released: 1,092 in 2025, versus 1,124 in 2024.

This result constitutes the peak since 2019, which saw £1.35bn in total revenue. That was just prior to the precipitous drop of the physical cinema box office the following year, to £323.7m, as Covid restrictions hit hard. Cinema revenues recovered to £595.5m in 2021, and £980.7m in 2022, only exceeding £1bn in 2023, with a total of £1.06bn.

Pipeline Recovery and Changing Tactics

The numbers of films on release suggest that the movie-making engine, impacted by the pandemic and subsequent film industry strikes in 2023, has recovered. It is, in fact, topping pre-pandemic levels; in 2019, 938 films were released.

Importantly, however, a change in approach appears to be underway. In 2025, 224 films were recorded as “saturation” releases (playing in over 250 venues simultaneously), versus 200 in 2024 and 188 in 2019. Figures show that Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale had the widest opening in the UK in 2025, with over 750 cinemas.

The Year's Top Film

The highest grossing film of 2025 in the UK and Ireland was the gaming adaptation A Minecraft Movie. Its viral impact, notably from the “chicken jockey” scene, has translated into box office the top spot, with a total of £56.88m.

“Despite only a slight annual rise in box office, 2025 was certainly a major milestone in the sector’s recovery after the challenges of recent years. There is considerable hope that the coming months will see substantial more growth.”

The film also dominated the 2025 North American box office but placed fifth at the worldwide box office, trailing the global leader, the Chinese animation Ne Zha 2.

British Productions and Event Cinema

Among British productions, the fourth Bridget Jones film, Mad About the Boy, was the most successful at the UK and Irish box office, taking £46.4m. It came far in front of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale and 28 Years Later in second and third place.

The figures also revealed the ongoing popularity of “event cinema” releases, which took a total of £44m (4.1% of the total). This category included 10 films earning more than £1m. Among these was the record-breaking showing for a stage production; the film of the West End production Six the Musical amassed £6.2m.