Odeon has recorded its best summer since before the Covid crisis, with almost 10 million customers between the start of June and the end of August. Audience numbers were up by a third on last year, and the company said this August had been its best since 2018.
Blockbusters drive attendance
The jump came despite the ongoing challenge from streaming giants such as Netflix, as well as the FIFA World Cup and England's strong run. Odeon credited a string of blockbusters, including Spider-Man: Brand New Day starring Tom Holland and Zendaya, The Odyssey, and Disclosure Day starring Emily Blunt. Each of the three films attracted more than 1.3 million moviegoers, while a further 12 films drew more than 100,000 each.
Heatwaves and savings schemes
There have also been reports of cinemas across Europe benefiting from this summer's extreme heatwaves. Some screenings in normally quiet, mid-afternoon slots have been packed as families and others sought to escape the heat. Odeon said it had more than 150,000 bookings for its kids screenings over the summer, with tickets available for just £1. More than 1.25 million customers also benefited from the government's Great British Summer Savings scheme, which saw a VAT cut from 20% to 5% on kids' meals in restaurants and tickets to attractions like theatres and soft play.
Financial outlook
The strong summer should help to boost Odeon's finances after it posted a £29.5 million loss before tax in 2024, according to the latest accounts available at Companies House, although that was down from a loss of £46.7 million in 2023.
Suzie Welch, Odeon's managing director for UK and Ireland, said: “This summer has demonstrated once again cinema’s enduring appeal. Despite a packed summer of sport and numerous heatwaves, almost 10 million film fans came through our doors to enjoy an incredible variety of amazing films. It has also been brilliant to see a record proportion of visits to our iSense, IMAX, XL and Dolby screens.”
Welch added: “We are excited to carry this momentum into the autumn and look forward to welcoming film fans back for even more unforgettable big-screen moments, including Avengers: Doomsday, Dune: Part Three, Forgotten Island and Focker-in-Law.”
