the british film resource
    

 
the british film resourceThe Renaissance of the 1980s
the british film resourceAuthor:Matt Pearson 
 
 
Introduction Introduction
Margaret Thatcher Margaret Thatcher
Thatcher as Inspiration Thatcher as Inspiration
Audiences Audiences
The International Market The International Market
Cultural Identity Crisis Cultural Identity Crisis
Us and Them Us and Them
A Sense of Perspective A Sense of Perspective
Industrial Renaissance Industrial Renaissance
Artistic Renaissance Artistic Renaissance
Towards a Healthy Industry Towards a Healthy Industry
Conclusion Conclusion
 
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Audiences
The eighties saw the first upturn in cinema attendance since the fifties, a decline that is usually attributed to the introduction of television and later video. In 1945 there were 1,585 million cinema visits per year, this fell to an all-time low of 54 million in 1984 but has been steadily increasing since, the 1994 figure being 123 million. This growth could be attributed to the rise of the multiplex, the first having opened in Britain in 1985.

Unfortunately the growing audiences were not championing British film, the box-office being consistently 85-90% Hollywood dominated. This may have been good news for the exhibitors and distributors but with the Eady Levy abolished it didn't benefit the producers in any way.

 
The International Market