Mamma Mia! Boosts UK Cinema

Mamma Mia!, the hit musical film, has helped the UK cinema industry to attract its highest number of attendances in recent years.

The Abba-themed movie took more than £62 million at the box-office and pulled in more than 12 million cinema-goers since its release in July.

Cinema visits were up by three million year on year to 53 million visits in the last three months, according to the Film Distributors’ Association (FDA).

Mark Batey, chief executive of the FDA, told the BBC that the film’s success had “exceeded everybody’s expectations”.

However, according to the report released by the FDA, a number of additional factors helped boost figures over the summer months, including the poor weather and a wide variety of films.

Speaking to the BBC, Batey said: “There are still a vast number of other titles firing away to make up the 53 million visits.”

He also gave credit to the Batman film, The Dark Knight, and said that cinema remains a popular pastime in times of economic uncertainty.

“Cinema has proven itself to be remarkably resilient in times of downturn,” he added. “It is a form of escape for everyone.”

FDA: www.launchingfilms.com BBC: 020 8743 8000 www.bbc.co.uk