Number of feature films produced in the United Kingdom 1994-2020

In 2020, the United Kingdom (UK) produced 134 feature films, down from 281 in the previous year – an annual decrease of over 50 percent. Meanwhile, the box office revenue generated at cinemas in the UK declined by over 76 percent between 2019 and 2020.

A global player

Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the overall entertainment sector, the British film industry remains among the leading movie markets worldwide, producing hundreds of films every year. The commercial success of UK's movies also suggest that this continues to be a solid industry. The global box office revenue of British films plummeted by almost 90 percent between 2019 and 2020. Still, they grossed more than one billion U.S. dollars at the box offices across the world.

Between tragicomedy and reality

During the three-year period between 2018 and 2020, the UK produced mostly dramas (140 movies), documentaries (127), and comedies (84). These were the most recurring genres in the contemporary British filmography. But the blockbusters could more easily be described as mix of themes and tones. In 2020, the top UK film by worldwide box office revenue was "The Gentlemen" – co-produced with the United States – which intertwines action, comedy, and crime. The secon place, "Emma", involves comedy, drama, and romance, like many of Jane Austen's original pieces.