The dual offerings of Barbie and Oppenheimer prompted the biggest weekend for UK cinema-going since 2019, according to the UK Cinema Association.
Image : Instagram
Greta Gerwig's film about the Mattel doll, played by Margot Robbie, having an existential crisis and Christopher Nolan's epic about the "father" of the atomic bomb, generated almost £30 million at the UK box office
Image : Instagram
The group, which represents the interests of UK cinema operators, said Cinema chain Vue said a fifth of its customers had purchased tickets to see both films in a double bill dubbed by social media as Barbenheimer.
Image : Instagram
More than 2,000 of Vue's Barbie screenings were sold out, according to the company.
Image : Instagram
Cinemas now face the prospect of a halt in the supply chain as Hollywood's writers and actors are on strike.
Image : Instagram
Richards said that, while the summer blockbusters have already been released or are ready to go, the effects of the strike will be felt further down the line.
Image : Instagram
In the short term it is the cost-of-living crisis that could pose a more immediate issue.
Image : Instagram
It marked the biggest weekend for the cinemas since Avengers: Endgame in 2019 and the chain's busiest Saturday since 2015.
Image : Instagram
Odeon said it sold 230,000 litres of drinks, 610,000 litres of popcorn, and 49,000 portions of nachos over the weekend.
Image : Instagram