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BOX OFFICE UP IN FIRST HALF OF 2025
A SALTY TALE
ITV, DISNEY PACT FOR TASTER OFFER
BBFC CONFIRMS AMAZON DEAL AFTER 12-MONTH TRIAL…
…BOARD JOINS TASKFORCE…
…AS SUPER CARD REVEALED…
FRIGHTFEST UNVEILS LINE-UP
SIGNATURE’S HOME OPENS FEST…
…AS BLUE FINCH OFFERS SIX OF THE BEST
DUKEFEST CELEBRATES TRAILERS…
…AS CINEMA SELLS HOME ENT TITLES
P-P-PICK UP A PENGUIN
BFI AND PET SHOP BOYS: LET’S MAKE LOTS OF MONEY
ARE YOU TRYING TO SEDUCE ME, STUDIOCANAL?
CRITERION GOES ON WALKABOUT
SPACE FOR ARROW’S SEPTEMBER SLATE
SPOTTED OUT AND ABOUT
SUPPORT THE RAYGUN
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK 
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It was a good week for… Box office for the first half of 2025 up year-on-year, boosted by strong June figures, and 18 per cent ahead of last year’s first six months…
It was a bad week for… The Point cinema, the UK’s first multiplex – the one that changed everything – which is now being demolished…
We have been watching… More at the Nickel Cinema, as well as spending one night at the annual Duke Mitchell Fest, we also caught up with Studiocanal’s masterful Hearts Of Darkness documentary out this week…
With the summer blockbuster season now in full swing – Superman is playing at cinemas as we write this, with week after week of biggies to follow, not least The Fantastic Four: First Steps – there’s more good news for the industry, both in theatrical and forthcoming home entertainment release terms, as the box office figures for not just the summer but the first six months of 2025 too. According to Screen Daily, theatrical receipts in June were up seven per cent year-on-year, figures made all the more impressive given that the same month in 2024 featured animated juggernaut Inside Out 2. Total for the month at the box office was £76.7 million, up from £71.8 million last year. The June figures were evenly spread across a raft of titles too – whereas Inside Out 2 took £34.9 million last year, June’s biggest cinema release, How To Drain Your Dragon, had receipts of £16.7 million (since risen to more than £19 million). Other heavy hitters this year included 28 Years Later, with £11 million by the end of the month (now at £13.7 million), F1 The Movie (£9.8 million, now £15.9 million)), Lilo And Stitch (which took £7.6 million in June out of its mammoth haul of £35.3 million by the end of the month) and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. Meanwhile for 2025, the figures are equally positive – the first six months the of the year were up 18 per cent on 2024, with more than half a billion pounds – £532.2 million – taken at the box office up to the end of June. Meanwhile, July’s first biggie, Jurassic World Rebirth, took £9.2 million in its first three days, which swelled to £12.5 million on previews, and has now reached just under £20 million, with Superman taking £7 million in its first weekend.
One of this year’s runaway successes at the UK box office has been The Salt Path, a homegrown, based-on-a-true-story tale of a couple who lose their home and set off on a journey around the country’s coastal path. It had taken £7.7 million in its first few weeks, the third biggest British film of the year, so it’ll be interesting to see what whole happen in the coming weeks and into its home entertainment window, as the film has become mired in controversy. For The Observer has alleged the story is less true than author Raynor Winn (played by Gillian Anderson in the big screen adaptation) has claimed… The story is here and producers Number 9 Films and Shadowplay issued a joint statement saying that the film was faithful to the book, and that “all necessary due diligence” was carried out before acquiring the rights to the book. It continued: "There were no known claims against the book at the time of optioning it or producing and distributing the film. The allegations made in The Observer relate to the book and are a matter for the author Raynor Winn. We have passed any correspondence relating to the article to Raynor and her agent.” Given its figures for the week ending July 13 show that it had gone up to £7.9 million, which suggests the controversy has not hindered it. And although this one will run and run, its home entertainment release could well appeal to those who maybe didn’t’t see it at the cinema, but want to know what the fuss is all about – possibly boosting its potential, especially as a digital release…
Big streaming news of the week comes from the Disney and ITV and their respective streaming services, Disney+ and ITVX. As of this week, on July 16, each of the respective services will offer up a selection of titles from each other’s platform on their own. It expands the partnership between the two and as well as “expanding viewer choice” could well widen the audiences and add new subscribers to both. A Taste Of ITVX on Disney+ will offer tup the likes of Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, A Spy Among Friends, some seasons of Love Island, dramas favourites such as Endeavour, Vera, and, timed with the premiere of the second series of ITVX, the first season of Karen Pirie. A Taste Of Disney+ on both the ITVX and its ad-free counterpart ITVX Premium will include The Bear, Andor and Only Murders in the Building as well as some seasons of reality shows such as The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and The Kardashians, and series for youngsters and families taking in the likes of Lilo and Stitch: The Series and Phineas and Ferb. Disney Entertainment’s direct to consumer president Joe Earley said: “We are proud of this innovative collaboration with ITV, which will allow us to bring Disney+ customers some of the UK’s favourite and buzzworthy shows and encourage ITVX viewers to discover some of Disney+’s award-winning series and blockbuster films.” ITV MD of media and entertainment Kevin Lygo said: “Disney is a fantastic partner with a brilliant breadth of content. This mutually beneficial alliance allows us to show our complementary audiences a specially selected collection of titles, regularly updating, that gives a flavour of the range in our respective offerings. For us, this deal means even more great content for viewers on ITVX, and even more opportunity for viewers to find and enjoy our distinctive titles and services.”
More streaming news and, after a 12-month trial, Amazon’s Prime Video is now generating BBFC age ratings and content advice in-house. It’s aligned with the BBFC’s own guidelines and will be audited by the board itself. It will start with Amazon’s original and exclusive content, with, as the announcement noted, “Prime Video [continuing] to carry BBFC age ratings on all licensed content that has been previously classified by the BBFC for release on video or streaming”. It comes ahead of regulator Ofcom’s Video on Demand Code and guidance due later this year, and, as the BBFC noted, with parents calling for consistent age ratings across cinema and all home entertainment. BBFC chief executive David Austin said: “We’re incredibly proud to announce a new self-rating partnership with Prime Video. UK audiences tell us they value trusted, consistent age ratings - whether they're watching on the big screen or streaming at home. This collaboration empowers families to make informed viewing decisions when watching Prime Video and strengthens our shared commitment to protecting audiences, particularly children, from harmful content. It’s a best practice approach that ensures clear, trusted and recognisable ratings are available wherever and however people watch.”
Sticking with the BBFC and the board has released research into the proliferation of adult material online, showing that one in three adult pornography users have been exposed to violent or abusive content online in the past 12 weeks, while four out of five users support new laws which would prevent the publication of such material to bring the online world into line with the BBFC’s video classification. The organisation has joined Baroness Bertin’s Taskforce following her recent review, and said it is ready to “take on formal auditing role as recommended in Baroness Bertin’s review”. The Taskforce will, the BBFC said, “bring together politicians, campaigners, police, charities and organisations who are invested in making the online world a safer place”. BBFC president Natasha Kaplinsky OBE said: “The BBFC has long been concerned about the increasingly violent and abusive pornography so easily accessible online. Our findings that one in three adult pornography users have been exposed to such content in the last three months is shocking, but sadly it is not surprising. Parity on and offline is paramount and our research suggests that there is broad support among pornography users in the UK for aligning the regulation of online pornography with the standards already applied offline. What’s illegal to distribute offline, should be illegal to distribute online. We stand ready to better protect audiences online by taking on the formal role of auditing online pornography as recommended in the Independent Pornography Review, which would be a natural extension of the role we have fulfilled offline for decades.” Baroness Bertin, Lead Reviewer of the Independent Pornography Review said: “This BBFC research shows a clear path for regulating online pornography. The industry has faced virtually no scrutiny, despite widespread concerns about violence, misogyny, and content involving unclear age of performers or consent. The Government’s recent announcement to ban pornographic content depicting strangulation and suffocation is a welcome and significant step. It shows ministers are beginning to listen to growing concern about the harms caused by violent online pornography. But any law change could be ineffective if there isn't a regulatory body that will proactively assess whether standards are being met, and the law is being enforced. The BBFC stepping up to audit content and expedite reports of non compliance is a vital move the Government should back.”
Finally at the BFFC, and on a lighter note, the organisation worked with Warner on the current theatrical biggie Superman. Its latest Create A Card competition, where it invites entrants to design one of its classification notices appearing before a film, was for the superhero film, with the winner, 14-year-old Elsie from Eastbourne, designing one featuring the Man of Steel to appear before the film in the UK. She won a signed print of the card, a tour of the BBFC offices and a trip to the special fan event, as well as getting the chance to meet Superman himself, David Corenswet, Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) and Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), as well as filmmaker James Gunn. Winner Elsie said: “As soon as I saw the new Superman film was coming out, I was so excited. I couldn’t believe it when I found the competition - it was perfect for me. Winning feels SUPER! Meeting the actors was so cool and I can’t believe my artwork will be in cinemas too!” BBFC president, Natasha Kaplinsky OBE, said: “Year after year, we've been blown away by the ingenuity, originality, and creativity of the BBFC Create The Card Competition entries, and this year is no different. It was a very tough decision as we had so many outstanding entries, but I am thrilled to congratulate Elsie as our very deserving winner. Elsie's beautifully crafted piece, filled with hope, is perfectly suited for a BBFC Black Card and will have such an impact on the big screen. Our Create The Card competitions continue to connect artistic creativity with film classification, and the vital role age ratings play in shaping young people’s viewing experiences. A huge congratulations again to Elsie for creating such a phenomenal piece of artwork. I can’t wait to see it in the cinema.” Warner Bros Discovery SVP for marketing for UK and Ireland Alex Lewis said: "As we anticipated, James Gunn’s reimagining of Superman has inspired a great many young artists across the UK to create their own vision of this icon. On behalf of everyone at Warner Bros. and DC, a huge congratulations to Elsie for creating such a fabulous work of art. And a big thank you to everyone who felt moved by the all-new Superman to take part in the competition.”
It’s nearly August, which means the final bank holiday weekend of the summer is approaching, which also means the annual horror film festival FrightFest is looming large on the horizon and the team behind it have announced the bulk of the lineup for this year’s event, taking place, as ever in and around London’s Leicester Square. As ever, it provides the perfect launchpad for both theatrical and home entertainment releases and a seal of approval from the event in airing it over the five-day weekend (August 21-25 this year) is a recommendation in itself, the word of mouth and buzz a successful premiere at FrightFest earns can give it a massive further boost too. The list is far too long to feature here (see here for more), but among those we’ll be keeping an eye on are the likes of opening film The Home, from The Purge creator James DeMonaco and starring comic Pete Davidson (“an instant horror classic” says FrightFest); event closer from Shudder, Influencers (“so deliciously twisted it is destined to be one of the most talked-about genre films of the year”); a 4K restoration of The Descent that is certain to make its way to 4K UHD Blu-ray; the new take on Toxic Avenger and too many others too numerous to mention, taking in premieres from around the globe, homegrown horror from FrightFest friends, documentaries (one of which looks at our old chum and FrightFest poster designer Graham Humphreys), animated titles and more. One of the team behind the event Alan Jones said: “FrightFest in its 26th year remains the UK’s Number One destination for genre fans. The 2025 event will be epic in every sense, celebrating the inventive, transgressive and diverse. So, join us for an event that has consistently remained in the Top Ten of The World’s Best Fantasy Festivals list.”
One of the distributors well represented at the event is Signature, with one of its acquisitions The Home opening event and a slate over the five-day festival in and around Leicester Square which includes the aforementioned Troma remake of Toxic Avenger, starring Peter Dinklage. The company has long had a strong association with FrightFest. Also offering up a strong slate of titles at the event is indie Blue Finch, which has no less than six titles over the long weekend at FrightFest. These include Norwegian title Above The Knee; Redux Redux (“genre-bending sci-fi horror about a grieving mother searching for a reality where her murdered daughter is still alive”; Blockhead, the first narrative feature from American The Bill Hicks Story director Matt Harlock; "suburban monster horror” Hold The Fort; Hellcat and In A Cold Vein.Blue Finch Films director of distribution Fatima Hayward said: “It's great to be continuing our relationship with FrightFest this year. With its strong press coverage and loyal audience, the festival has always proven itself to be a valuable launch pad for our genre titles before their releases in the UK and Ireland.”
To the King & Queen pub in London’s Fitzrovia, where our pals at the Duke Mitchell Film Club, former hmv turned Sony staffer Alex Kidd and Evrim Ersoy, long time associates of the FrightFest crew, who’ve hosted their own events within FrightFest, were hosting one of four nights – two at the Prince Charles Cinema and two in the pub – under the banner Dukefest. As ever, the former hosted full length features (the event gave a UK premiere to Hundreds Of Beavers some time back, this year included a UK first screening for Wicker Man doc The Last Sacrifice https://youtu.be/BQBbfEPaaOc?si=OVAiUFKbz8ZPCIyI), while the latter was for assorted airings of VHS wonders, including a whole boatload of classic Warner Home Video trailers from the 1980s after Kidd secured a package from eBay. It was a trip down memory lane – these items, sent out to rental dealers to preview forthcoming titles, are prized among collectors and hard to come by – and seeing specially made trailer tapes, one presented by then TV personality Lorraine Chase, was a reminder of how much the industry has changed.
In a similar vein, London’s newest indie cinema has just opened its doors, with The Nickel, in Clerkenwell Road, on the fringes of the West End and the City, specialising in grindhouse and exploitation cinema. It’s in the site of the old Magma Books store and retains some of its retail fixtures – and as you enter the ground floor cinema, you’re greeted by a hefty range of Blu-rays, DVDs and even VHS of films (both new and secondhand stock), as well as books, vinyl soundtrack albums and film ephemera. The range is the kind of exploitation and trash films the cinema specialises in (we were there first for a screening of Namsploitation video-era fave Rolling Thunder, followed up by a second trip – literally – to see bad acid horror Blue Sunshine) and features the kind of labels we often write about here, such as Arrow and 88 Films. It will definitely appeal to the kind of core collectors who are still buying tons of physical media and, dare we say it, would provide a great venue for screenings and launches – it has a real grindhouse feel, with a bar area downstairs and reminded of the beloved and much-missed Scala. Find out more here… This week’s releases are led by one of our favourite films of 2025, and a world away from those we’ve just mentioned, in the shape of feelgood Steve Coogan starrer The Penguin Lessons, which feature the year’s most charming creature, the flightless bird of the title, Juan Salvador), who is taken in by a troubled English language teacher in Argentina under the country’s brutal military dictatorship in the 1970s. It’s a heartwarming, moving tale, landing today (July 14). Lionsgate’s Sophie Fawcett said: “Waddling onto your home screens, The Penguin Lessons is due to be release on DVD and Blu-Ray on Monday 14th July. We have had brilliant reactions to the film from audiences and critics alike, with the lovable Juan Salvador stealing the screen alongside Steve Coogan and Jonathan Pryce.
One company that has scored big with adding CDs – and even a cassette – into its releases is Studiocanal, its recent deluxe boxsets for The Wicker Man and The Conversation chief among among them, and the company has unveiled another one in the shape of another classic outing, The Graduate. Due on September 15, the three-disc box includes the Mike Nichols directed classic, starring Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft, on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and Simon and Garfunkel's legendary soundtrack on CD. It also comes with a raft of on-disc extras and a 64-page booklet featuring new writing on the film. Studiocanal’s Alison Arber said: “We were thrilled to announce the release of Mike Nichol’s 1960s masterpiece THE GRADUATE on 4K for the first time on Sept 15th. Starring Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft in their iconic roles, the beloved film will be released as a beautiful new 4K collector’s set with booklet, posters and the iconic Simon & Garfunkel soundtrack.”
Also announcing over the past week or so has been Criterion, with the company revealing its September titles, as outline here by Spirit’s JP Partridge, who said: “Our lead title in September is Walkabout and fans of director Nicholas Roeg will be thrilled as it is one of his last great films to arrive on 4k UHD. Like Criterion’s 4k of his later film Performance, Walkabout is crammed with extras including a commentary with Roeg and actor Jenny Agutter and a fascinating doc on the life and career of David Gulpilil who made his acting debut at 16 in Walkabout and went on to have a big film career seemingly appearing in every Australian film since - from Rabbit Proof Fence to Crocodile Dundee! Joining Walkabout in September are the 4k debut of The Burmese Harp, Kon Ichikawa’s beautiful antiwar film about a Japanese private who reinvents himself as a Buddhist Monk and the Blu-ray debut of Saving Face, a delightful subversion of rom com tropes blending a queer romance with a mother and daughter reconciliation as a medical student starts a relationship with a dancer at the same moment her mum unexpectedly comes to visit.”
Arrow has also unveiled its September titles, with a half a dozen wildly varied but consistently excellent and intriguing titles due for release throughout the month. Half are new to 4k UHD titles, which should be familiar to most consumers, with a further three recommended releases that will be boosted by coming under the Arrow Video banner. Comment and further detail on the line-up came from the company’s James Flower, who said: “September brings another round of heavy hitters from Arrow Video to the UK market, from UHD premieres of 80s horror favourite Creepshow 2 and Paul Schrader’s immortally stylish American Gigolo, to Blu-ray editions of such underrated cult favourites as Japanese/US crime flick Proof of the Man and Lucky McKee’s occult chiller The Woods, a new film from our ongoing Shudder deal in the form of found-footage frightfest Deadstream, and last but not least, from our epic Warner deal, an all-singing-all-dancing UHD of the 1997 big-screen reboot of Lost in Space, immaculately restored by our friends at Silver Salt, approved by director (and now London resident) Stephen Hopkins. Wait ‘til you see what we’ve got in store for Q4!”
 SPOTTED OUT AND ABOUT
The Smurfs took over London locations and landmarks to celebrate the theatrical release of the latest in their never-ending adventures, here they are lining up outside St Paul's…
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TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
It’s a long story, but there’s a loose video industry connection to this tale…
Plenty of opportunities with this one…
Not content with being in the mosh pit at Black Sabbath, here he is again…
The Brady hunch…
He's back…
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