UK box office hits highest-grossing year ever, thanks to Spectre and Star Wars: The Force Awakens

The previous record was set by 2012, which saw the release of both The Dark Knight Rises and The Avengers

The UK box office has recorded its highest-grossing ever year for 2015; thanks partially to high-earners Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Spectre.

Data released by Rentrak for the past year has put the total gross across the UK and Ireland at £1.310BN, marking a hefty 15.26% rise from 2014's £1.136BN. This surpasses the previous record holder, 2012's £1.179BN, by 11.07%; a year which saw both The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises released to resounding success.

Lucy Jones, executive director at Rentrak, told Screen Daily, “In our preview review of the disappointing 2014 box office, we stated that cinema is a product-driven market. The audience will turn out for the films that grab their attention but they need a compelling reason to go. This was emphatically proven by the record-breaking results seen in 2015 which delivered not only the biggest box office total of all time, but also Star Wars: The Force Awakens, now poised to take the crown for the biggest film of all time.”

Indeed, 2014's poor box office showings are proven by the fact the five top films of last year all managed to surpass 2014's biggest release, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (£41.3M). 

Jones continued, "In addition, it’s encouraging to see the success of local films and actors, with four UK productions passing £20m for the first time since 2011.” This is in reference to Spectre (£94M), The Martian (£23.5M), The Theory of Everything (£21.7M), and Cinderella (£21.3M). 

Listed below are 2015's top ten highest grossing films. It's worth noting that, though Spectre holds the top spot, Star Wars: The Force Awakens has since overtaken the Bond flick and is set to soon topple Skyfall's position as the highest-grossing film of all time in the UK and Ireland. 

1. Spectre (£94m) 
2. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (£87.1m) 
3. Jurassic World (£64.5m) 
4. Avengers: Age of Ultron (£48.3m) 
5. Minions (£47.8m) 
6. Inside Out (£39.2m) 
7. Fast & Furious 7 (£38.6m) 
8. Fifty Shades of Grey (£35.1m)
9. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (£28.1m)  
10. Home (£25.4m)