The Guardian reports that the U.K. cinema takings for 2007 were up 7.7% on the previous year, a record high (£904.9 million). This has been attributed to poor weather in the summer and blockbusters such as Harry Potter, according to the Film Distributors' Association.
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A large chunk of those takings were in the summer, with July the best month on record for cinemagoing in four decades.
The FDA attributes the success to a strong line-up of films, including Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. On top of that came the rising popularity of foreign films such as the The Lives of Others, the Oscar-winning drama about the Stasi spies in East Berlin.
2008 is anticipated to be just as strong, partly because, unlike in 2007, this years blockbusters are spaced out in terms of release dates.
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Whereas last year saw most of the blockbusters bunched together in the summer, 2008's films are more spread out, with the new James Bond and Harry Potter instalments not due until the end of the year. That spacing out - vital now that new film releases average 10 a week - should help raise box office receipts, says the FDA.
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It also cites a boost from a growing British presence in big films, whether it be UK productions such as Run, Fat Boy, Run, UK stories such as Atonement or the upcoming Prince Caspian, or UK actors and directors, such as Bourne Ultimatum filmmaker Paul Greengrass. "The link has become a positive. Five or 10 years ago it would have been 'Oh God! It's a British film" but now no one cares," says Batey.
Order of the Phoenix was the top film of 2007, according to box office takings in the U.K. and Ireland.
Half-Blood Prince releases on November 21st 2008.
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Harry Potter 5 boosted UK cinema takings, Half-Blood Prince expected to do similar 
