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ILLEGAL STREAMERS FACE SCAMS… AND MORE
DYER’S ON THE POWDER FOR TRUST
BFI RELEASES MORE 2024 FIGURES…
FEWER FILMS MADE IN UK, BUT SPEND UP
CRONOS ON THE BIG SCREEN AHEAD OF BLU-RAY RELEASE…
…AS BFI REVEALS Q2 SLATE
PADDINGTON – FROM PERU TO HOMES…
…AND STUDIOCANAL’S LION JOINS BEAR
NEW DIMENSION FOR STUDIOCANAL
V/H/S GOES BEYOND FOR SEVENTH OUTING
THIRD WINDOW ADDS THREE TO COLLECTION
ANORA GOES STRAIGHT TO CRITERION FOR PHYSICAL…
…AND MORE FOR COLLECTION IN THE SPRING
ARROW UNVEILS APRIL SLATE
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
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It was a good week for… …Production spend up in the UK in 2024, according to BFI figures…
It was a bad week for… Anyone illegally streaming, as it's been revealed they face loads of potentyial pifalls and scams…
We’ve been watching… We've just seen Hundreds Of Beavers on a big screen as part of the UK tour of the film with one of its creators, with scores of punters picking up copies of the Blu-ray. More on this next week…
Scams, fraud, viruses, harmful content, data theft… Not another week in the life of The Raygun but, rather, the risks that consumers expose themselves to when accessing illegal streaming sites. Research unveiled to mark Safer Internet Day (February 11) this week highlighted the threats that the public face when they go on dodgy websites to view content illegally. The survey, revealed by The Industry Trust for IP Awareness and sister trade organisation BASE, showed that more than three quarters of the UK’s 30 most visited illegal streaming sites are “actively exposing users to scams, financial fraud, and explicit content—posing a serious threat to online safety”. Among the tactics revealed were credit card scams, pop-ups and redirects to explicit content; automatic downloads of harmful software and deceptive VPN tactics (“some sites falsely claim to reveal a user’s IP address, pressuring them into purchasing a recommended VPN service”). Almost 3.6 million illegal streamers in the UK have fallen prey to such dubious practices. BASE announced its research in a bid to woo illegal streamers away from such sites and to legitimate, legal options. Liz Bales, Chief Executive of The Industry Trust for IP Awareness, said: “This research from Corsearch is a stark warning: illegal streaming is far from a risk-free activity. With 76% of the UK’s most-visited pirate sites exposing users to scams and harmful content, it’s clear that these platforms are not only undermining the creative industries but also directly endangering consumers—especially younger audiences. It is more important than ever to ensure both parents and young people are aware of these risks and of the safer alternatives.” Simon Baggs, Executive Chairman, Brand & Content Protection at Corsearch, added: “At Corsearch, we’re committed to protecting the creative industries and the people who enjoy their work. Illegal streaming sites aren’t just a threat to rights-holders, they also put consumers at risk and in danger. Working at the forefront of tackling these threats, we have a clear understanding of the risks and the methods used by criminals to put young people at risk. Raising awareness of these is crucial in safeguarding youth today and creating a safer digital space for all.”
Staying with the Industry Trust for IP Awareness and the organisation has added a new thrust to its ongoing Moments Worth Paying For Campaign with the launch of a new and exclusive piece featuring none other than Danny Dyer, promoting his new film Marching Powder at the same time as extolling the virtues of watching films legitimately. Given that a film from the same director and star (Nick Love and Danny Dyer), Football Factory, was the target of much piracy in the DVD era (and scored a massive hit both at cinemas and especially at home despite the number of snide copies out there), it should play to right crowd too. Marching Powder sees Dyer on familiar turf for Football Factory fans, as a drug-taking, beer-swilling football hooligan who is facing a challenge to put his glory days and match-going, punch-up ways behind him. Chief executive at BASE and The Industry Trust for IP Awareness Liz Bales said: “It is great to have a national treasure like Danny Dyer, promoting the big screen as the best place to watch films first and driving engagement for local cinemas across the UK and Ireland. With the next Moments trailer being a truly British feature with some amazing local talent at the helm, this campaign highlights the importance of supporting homegrown films. My thanks go to True Brit for creating this Moments campaign and to the continued support of DCM, Pearl & Dean, Clear Channel, and members of the UK Cinema Association.” Head of theatrical distribution, marketing and publicity, at True Brit Entertainment Chris Besseling said: “As a new member of The Industry Trust, TRUE BRIT ENTERTAINMENT is extremely excited to be collaborating on their latest Moments Worth Paying For campaign in conjunction with our new film MARCHING POWDER starring national treasure Danny Dyer and directed by Nick Love (The Football Factory, The Business). At TRUE BRIT, we are strong believers in the unique, unparalleled, communal experience of the cinema - an experience that needs to be valued and protected now more than ever. We are delighted that our leading man Danny Dyer has come on board in this exclusive advert to deliver this incredibly important message. There’s no question that for a riotous, laugh-out-loud comedy like MARCHING POWDER, big laughs are best enjoyed in the company of your friends and family, together with hundreds of other film-lovers, in front of the Big Screen.” You can see it here: https://youtu.be/X7De74lu0ew?si=wqdMftyPSiuqPMeA
More figures for the year just gone have been released – expect more on the way too, right up to the summer, when the BBFC report is traditionally published – this time from the BFI, which offers an overview not just of film production un the UK but also taking in high end television, box office and more. Some of the box office figures had already been revealed, but there is more fine detail and some other interesting facts to emerge. According to the organisation, admissions at UK cinemas rose by two per cent on the previous year, to 126.5 million in 2024 with, as noted here previously, the final months of the year saving the overall figures from showing a decline. The figures are down 28 per cent on the pre-pandemic admission figure of 176 million in 2019. Box office receipts in the UK for 2024 came in at £979 million, marginally down on the previous year’s £980 million (UK and Ireland figures were at £10.1 billion). Intriguingly, these figures do not, as the BFI noted, “include 26 Netflix-backed titles which had a theatrical release as their box office revenues are not reported”. Five UK independent releases earned more than £5 million at UK cinemas, with Amy Winehouse biopic Back To Black leading the way wit £12.3 million, ahead of One Life, Wicked Little Letters, Conclave and All of Us Strangers. Sticking with independents, the report continued; “The total box office for the 2024 top 20 UK independent films was £63.9 million, almost double 2023’s top 20 total of £33.7 million, and accounting for 93 per cent of the total box office for UK independent film releases over the year. Overall, independent UK films account for a 6.9 per cent market share of the total UK box office, equating to £69 million.” Interesting to note too, that the average revenue per admission as £7.74 per head, down from £7.92 the previous year. This was, the BFI noted, down to the preponderance of family films and reduced ticket prices for children.
On the production side, the BFI stated that film and high-end television production spend in the UK stood at £5.6 billion in 2024, a whopping 31 per cent increase on the previous year. Film production spend rose by 56 per cent to £2.1 billion, with TV rising 20 per cent to just under £3.4 billion. Of that TV total, more than £500 million was spend on 25 “film” productions made for streaming services. While the UK spend on film production rose in 2024, it was spent on fewer films – 191 went into production last year, 16 fewer than 2023. The majority of the spend – almost 90 per cent – came from inward investment, with £1.85 billion being spent on 67 features, which, as the BFI said, continues to “demonstrate the UK’s reputation globally as a world-class production hub”. Almost half of the 191 films that went into production were domestic UK features, with a spend of £185.5 million, a 25 per cent increase on the previous year. The report added: “UK production spend in 2024 by non-US studio and streamer films (includes UK and non-studio inward investment independent productions) was £751.9 million. This represents 34 per cent of total UK film production spend.” BFI chief executive Ben Roberts said: “The UK’s film and TV industries continue to be a powerhouse for creativity, investment and jobs. After a disrupted 2023, including the impact of US strikes, production spend rebounded to £5.6 billion in 2024 – up 31% on the previous year – demonstrating the UK’s strength as a world-leading destination for filmmaking. Wicked, made here in the UK, led the box office, following Barbie’s success in 2023, while independent films like Back to Black and One Life helped grow market share.”
It’s been a busy week for the BFI, with the organisation unveiling a raft of forthcoming titles – more below – and also celebrating the launch of early Guillermo del Toro horror Cronos in style too. It aired the latter on the big, big screen – the biggest – as it played on Sunday afternoon, just before its release on UHD and Blu-ray, at the BFI IMAX. It included a specially filmed introduction from the director, who oversaw the remastering of the new 4K edition of the film from the BFI. It gave the perfect platform to launch this new upgrade of the film, which looks a treat and the package has all the high standards you’d expect from a BFI release (if this doesn’t make year-end best Blu-ray listings come December, we’d be mighty surprised). Comment came from the organisation’s Ben Stoddart, who said: “It was great to premiere the new 4K version of acclaimed director Guillermo del Toro’s feature debut on a screen like the BFI IMAX. The audience was a great mixture of people who remember seeing it in the early nineties, and those who were experiencing it for the first time. It’s been a long journey getting here, but also a very enjoyable one.”
Also on the home entertainment side of the BFI, the organisation has revealed its titles due in the second quarter of the year, taking in April, May and June. And it’s just as wilfully eclectic as you’d expect from the organisation, taking in cinema from the UK and beyond. April sees a 4K first for classic modern French tale La Haine, which is celebrating 30 years since its storming and shocking debut at Cannes, as well as brutal Japanese crime thriller Brother, starring and directed by Takeshi ‘Beat’ Kitano, as well as a further additions to the always impressive Flipside imprint dedicated to rediscovering lost British and Irish cult films in the shape of Eclipse. May sees the truly marvellous (believe us) Slade In Flame, the group’s big screen debut and, as critic Mark Kermode famously called it, “the Citizen Kane of British pop movies”, getting a well-deserved Blu-ray release replete with a raft of extras; and also in May comes a 4K first for Akira Kurosawa’s Throne Of Blood. June releases include the second volume of works covering Chantal Ackerman’s directing career, as well as recent theatrical outing and London Film Festival award winner Four Mothers and a Blu-ray first for Shane Meadows’ excellent TwentyFourSeven, starring Bob Hoskins. The BFI’s Ben Stoddart said: “The BFI’s Q2 slate offers another great selection of titles, and early pre-orders suggest that lots of people are in agreement!. It’s great to be able to re-release La Haine on 4K, and we’re delighted to announce that the film will feature an alternative score by the excellent Asian Dub Foundation. Eclipse is a real rarity that dedicated fans of the Flipside will undoubtedly enjoy, starring the great Tom Conti, the film will have a launch screening at the BFI Southbank in April. Slade in Flame is coming together nicely and represents the latest in a series of music led titles from the BFI. Kurosawa’s classic Throne of Blood needs little comment, but since our release of Seven Samurai on 4K UHD last November the reaction to our Kurosawa upgrades has been overwhelmingly positive. Blu-ray (and 4K) rereleases of these titles, long associated with the BFI, has been really rewarding and we hope to do more of them! Shane Meadows’ BAFTA-nominated TwentyFourSeven is a real gem of a film, and one that deserves to be back out there again, a great soundtrack and starring the one and only Bob Hoskins, it’s a genuine 90s classic.
One of those biggest box office titles of 2024 mentioned in the BFI stats released is Paddington In Peru – the UK and French co-production was one of the year’s big earners, with a total hail of more than £35 million after an opening weekend of almost £10 million – and the film is available as a digital download this Friday (February 14) and on physical formats, taking in DVD, Blu-ray and 4K from Monday February 17. Comment on the release came from the company’s head of home entertainment and library John Rodden who said: “We’re delighted to bring Paddington in Peru to homes in the UK and Ireland on Valentine’s Day, as the film continues its successful run in cinemas. We think it’s a perfect date, right as schools break up for the half term holidays. What better way to spend a cold February day than curled up on the sofa watching Paddington Peru with family and friends?” Studiocanal’s Will Fraser added: “You can expect to see a full Paddington takeover this half term across our key retail partners, supported with a heavyweight marketing campaign covering all things media, partnerships and influencer activations.”
Also from Studiocanal on the same day, but somewhat different for Paddington’s exploits, is a sumptuous Blu-ray release for The Lion In Winter, a bona fide historical epic with an all-star cast. Stuciocanal’s Alison Arber said: “What family doesn't have its ups and downs? All hail The Lion in Winter! We are thrilled to be releasing a spectacular new restoration of this historic classic starring Katharine Hepburn in a powerhouse, Academy Award winning performance. As if that wasn’t enough, Peter O Toole is just as magnificent as King Henry II with feature film debuts from Anthony Hopkins and Timothy Dalton to boot. This Vintage Classics gem is a real treat in these dark winter days – out on UHD and Blu-ray February 17.”
Sticking with Studiocanal, and interesting news from the company as it fires up a new arm under the banner of Sixth Dimension, an in-house genre label headed up by Jed Benedict. It has announced its first acquisition this week, in the form of a new remake of seasonal horror classic Silent Night, Deadly Night, due at cinemas later this year. Studiocanal’s deal takes in worldwide rights excluding the US, and the film is produced by Cineverse, the company behind Terrifier 3, which will release it in the US. Benedict said: “At Sixth Dimension, our mission is to find bold high concept genre movies from great storytellers. We found exactly that in Mike P. Nelson’s thrilling vision, and combined with the virtuoso Cineverse team, Jamie R. Thompson, the original SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT producers and Steven Schneider, this wildly entertaining reimagining will not only deliver on blood-splattered, axe-wielding festivities, but smuggles in a love story too. ‘Tis the season to be gory!”
Back to new releases and this week sees the latest in the ongoing horror franchise V/H/S, with the latest – and seventh – instalment V/H/S Beyond, landing in stores on February 10. The Raygun has always felt a close affinity with the franchise, not least because we were there at its inception and helped source the cassettes for video giveaways of the first film, and this latest is one of the best entrants. Comment on the release, via Acorn, came from Helen Squire, who said: “We’re excited to have the bloodcurdling VHS horror franchise back to scare us silly – this time with VHS Beyond. It unleashes a whole new horror hellscape that’s (literally) out of this world. This new collection pushes the boundaries of fear beyond your wildest nightmares.”
And also in stores, this time on February 17, comes a trio of titles from Third Window under its Directors Company Collection banner, as outlined by the company’s Adam Roel, who said: “Our series focusing on the legendary Japanese production company of the 80s reaches its peak with three incredibly exciting films in this latest selection. Bumpkin Soup is a very early film from the now worldwide renowned director Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Tokyo Sonata, Cure) that is very much an homage to Godard and French New Wave. Alongside that are two films from Toshiharu Ikeda: Mermaid Legend is thought of as one of the best Japanese films of all time, yet due to rights issues had never been screened outside of Japan in the 40 years since it was made. The directors follow up Scent of A Spell also gets its first ever international release. Three gems of Japanese cinema, all out February 17.”
In a big week for announcements from boutique labels one of the most intriguing and mouth-watering comes from Spirit as part of its ongoing deal with Criterion, which sees recent theatrical hit Anora, the latest from acclaimed US indie director Sean Baker, whose tales from the wrong side of the tracks have earned critical praise, numerous awards and wows from audiences around the globe, arriving on physical media on the Criterion Collection exclusively. The film, which charts the tale of a dancer and stripper who meets the son of a Russian oligarch, won big at last year’s Cannes, before earning more than £2 million at UK cinemas at the end of 2024, and now appears in its first disc release as a 4K or Blu-ray release on May 5 with the Criterion Collection seal of approval . The Criterion banner adds to its cachet, meaning it will appeal to both new release consumers and regular Criterion collectors too. The 4k UHD release features the film on ultra high definition and the Blu-ray with the film and extras, the BD SKU features the latter; both come packed with extras, including not one but two commentaries. Commenting on the release, Spirit’s Tracy Niland said: ““I can’t tell you how excited we are at Spirit to be bringing such an electrifying film to the market! Here’s to a top night for Anora at the Oscars in a few weeks and to delivering a real treat to fans when it comes out on physical in May.”
Anora, out on May 5, heads up another impressive release announcement from the imprint, which is presaging the title with a strong April slate, as outlined further by Spirit’s Tracy Niland, who said: “Criterion announced its April releases this week and feature a very eclectic collection of titles. First up on April 7 we have A Woman About Paris, Charlie Chaplin’s second feature-length film as a director and somewhat of a dramatic offering as opposed to the comedy that he became most well-known for. Releasing on Blu-Ray from a 4k restoration of the 1976 release with two separate soundtracks; interviews, archive materials and deleted shots, it all comes together to make this a great addition to the growing Chaplin Criterion Collection. Next up is Wong Kar-Wai’s Chungking Express on both 4k and BD. The first time we have one of his films on 4k in the UK. Both releases come from a 4k digital restoration (approved by the man himself) which look and sound just as vibrant and stylish as you’d hoped. The package is rounded off with some interesting features and both formats are released on April 21. The final April release is a 4k and Blu-Ray of Arthur Penn’s neo-noir classic Night Moves starring Gene Hackman and Melanie Griffiths (in her first major role. A film that really found its audience when it came to Home Ent and this release from a new Dolby Vision HDR restoration alongside a new commentary, interviews and a behind the scenes featurette amongst other extras, provides a great opportunity to revisit it.
Also recently announcing is Arrow, which announced its April titles, which include some older classics, as well as a classic VHS action hit from the 1990s. Here’s the company’s Dean Lawson on its slate. He said: "We’re kicking off April with a brand new restoration by Arrow Films with the 90’s gem written by Shane Black, The Long Kiss Goodnight, releasing on both 4K UHD and blu-ray. To follow that we have the darkly comic Booger, we shine the spotlight on special effects in F/X and F/X 2, and a 9 film Japanese crime thriller boxset, V-Cinema Essentials all releasing on Blu-ray. Of course, alongside the above titles we also announced Sergio Leone’s titanic Western marvels, The Dollars Trilogy, releasing individually on 4K UHD and blu-ray in April, May and June respectively. It’s a huge April for Arrow Video and we can’t wait excited to get these out into people’s hands.”
SPOTTED OUT AND ABOUT
Amazon's Prime service spending big over Earls Court, west Lonon, for My Fault London…
 TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
Grillo the day…
Jurassic’s back…
And here’s another franchise returning…
Oh, and another franchise returns too…
More TOm, this time the Super Bowl spot…
https://youtu.be/j6xL_HRhLeA?si=aGNbqm-RLi6MWzmn And more Marvel, also from Super Bowl…
https://youtu.be/GUmSO7nh4Sw?feature=shared And another Super Bowl spot…
Due from Bulldog at cinemas in March…
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