The British home entertainment sector achieved a historic milestone in 2024, surpassing £5.1 billion ($6.4 billion) in consumer spending for the first time, according to new data from the British Association for Screen Entertainment (BASE). This record-breaking growth was fueled by unprecedented demand across streaming services, premium digital purchases, and physical formats, solidifying the U.K.’s position as a global leader in visual entertainment.
The wider U.K. screen industry, encompassing cinema and Pay TV, grew by 4.3% to reach 15.5 billion. These figures highlight the resilience and dynamism of the U.K. market, even as consumer preferences continue to evolve.
Blockbuster Titles Dominate Sales
Warner Bros. Discovery emerged as the standout studio of the year, with Wonka claiming the top spot across all formats, selling 821,000 units. Its epic sequel, Dune: Part Two, followed closely with 817,000 units and led physical sales with 132,000 disc units worth $2.5 million. Christopher Nolan’s Oscar-winning Oppenheimer continued to captivate audiences, becoming the most-rented title of the year with 487,000 Video-on-Demand (VOD) transactions. Meanwhile, Disney’s Deadpool & Wolverine dominated digital purchases, selling 465,000 Electronic Sell-Through (EST) units and achieving a total of 621,500 units across all formats.
Resilience of Physical Formats
Despite the dominance of digital platforms, physical formats demonstrated remarkable resilience, particularly in the premium segment. Sales of 4K UHD Blu-rays grew by 21% year-over-year, with 1.3 million units sold, generating $38 million in revenue. Catalog titles like Aliens, The Terminator, and The Lord of the Rings played a key role in driving this growth, appealing to collectors and cinephiles alike.
Expanding Release Landscape
The industry saw 1,605 new releases across home entertainment formats in 2024, complementing 1,114 theatrical releases. Premium Video-on-Demand (PVOD) and Premium Electronic Sell-Through (PEST) releases increased by 15% to 62 titles, with an average theatrical-to-digital window of 40 days.
Looking Ahead to 2025
Liz Bales, chief executive of BASE, emphasized the U.K.’s love for visual entertainment, stating, “Audiences make savvy choices across the spectrum of home entertainment formats available to them.” She highlighted the strong start to 2025, with Wicked becoming the most popular premium title since records began following its January 3 PVOD and PEST release.
The record-breaking performance of the home entertainment sector in 2024 underscores the U.K.’s enduring appetite for high-quality content across all formats. As the industry continues to innovate and adapt, it remains a vital part of the global entertainment landscape.
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