MOVIE MAGIC
Ireland No1 in EU for cinema visits.. & 2019 tipped to soar
IRISH people visit the cinema more than any other nationality in Europe.
An average of 3.3 trips per capita were made here in 2018 – that’s over twice the EU average of 1.6.
Wide Eye Media chief Eoin Wrixon said: “We are delighted to see the Republic of Ireland confirmed yet again as the biggest cinema-goers in the EU.
“This demonstrates the incredible impact cinema has had on Irish people, and the formidable force of the big screen in the Republic, as well as its endurance.
“Although we live in an era of multi-screening, streaming and watching on-demand, the cinema never loses its power or its magic.” The figures, obtained by The International Union of Cinemas (UNIC), paint a mixed picture across Europe, with total admissions across the EU down on record-breaking 2017.
Analysts attributed the dip in Episode IX part to a combination of the FIFA World Cup and the heatwave across much of the continent during the summer.
However, cinema sales in Ireland bucked the trend, rocketing to an eight-year peak in
Toy Story 2018. Guillaume Branders of UNIC also noted Ireland had the “highest screen density” of all the EU countries in the study.
Ireland enjoyed bumper cinema admissions last year, with a €117.3million box office return nearly €4million more than the previous year – and the highest figure since 2010.
And industry watchdogs are confident 2019 could turn out to be an even more profitable year for our booming cinema industry.
Mr Wrixon added: “With The Lion King, The Hustle, Star Wars: Episode IX, Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, Toy Story 4, Frozen 2, Long Shot, Avengers: Endgame, Joker, Downton Abbey and Cats all on their way to our screens, we could see admissions per capita spike.” 3.3 Ireland
3.2 France
2.8 Estonia
2.7 UK
2.3 Denmark 2.3 Norway
2.1 Netherlands 2.1 Spain
1.8 Luxembourg 1.7 Switzerland