LONDON, February 29, 2025
U.K. Film & TV Production Surges to £6.8 Billion
Table of Contents
A record-breaking £6.8 billion ($9.2 billion) was spent on film and high-end TV production in the U.K. in 2025, solidifying the nation’s position as a global production powerhouse.
- Film and high-end TV production in the U.K. reached £6.8 billion in 2025, a 22 percent increase year-over-year.
- High-end TV accounted for 59 percent of the total spend, while feature film production hit a record £2.8 billion.
- Inward investment films contributed £2.51 billion, demonstrating the U.K.’s continued appeal to international productions.
- The U.K. box office generated £996.8 million ($1.35 billion) in 2025, a 2 percent increase from 2024.
The United Kingdom’s screen industries are booming, with film and high-end television production reaching a remarkable £6.8 billion ($9.2 billion) in 2025, according to figures released by the British Film Institute on Thursday. This represents a significant 22 percent jump from 2024 and marks the third-highest annual spend on record, underscoring the sector’s substantial contribution to the national economy.
TV Leads the Charge, Films Follow
High-end TV production fueled much of this growth, contributing 59 percent of the total expenditure and experiencing a 17 percent increase compared to 2024. Feature film production wasn’t far behind, reaching £2.8 billion – a 31 percent increase and the highest annual spend ever recorded. The numbers paint a vibrant picture of a sector attracting significant investment and creative energy.
What factors are driving this surge in U.K. film and TV production? The majority of the spending—£2.51 billion from 58 features—came from inward investment films, with 193 productions taking place in the U.K. in 2025. The BFI noted this continues to showcase the U.K.’s global reputation as a world-class production hub. Among the high-profile international projects filming in the U.K. were Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights, Sam Mendes’ The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event, Craig Gillespie’s Supergirl, the Russo brothers’ Avengers: Doomsday, and Michael B. Jordan’s The Thomas Crown Affair.
Box Office Performance & Independent Films
The U.K. and Ireland box office also saw gains, generating £996.8 million ($1.35 billion) in 2025—a 2 percent increase from 2024. However, revenues remain 21 percent below pre-pandemic levels in 2019, indicating a continued recovery period for theatrical releases.
A Minecraft Movie topped the U.K. and Ireland box office charts, but a strong showing of U.K.-shot films also populated the top 10, including Wicked: For Good, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, Jurassic World Rebirth, Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
The top five U.K. independent films at the box office were The Roses, We Live In Time, The Salt Path, I Swear, and The Choral, highlighting the strength and diversity of the nation’s independent filmmaking scene.
Government Support & Industry Outlook
Culture minister Ian Murray emphasized the U.K.’s creative prowess, stating, “From Wicked and Hamnet to Bridgerton and Slow Horses, some of this year’s most successful films and high-end television were made in the U.K.” He added that the creative brilliance of the independent film sector shone through films like Pillion and The Ballad of Wallis Island, and that recently introduced tax measures will further bolster the industry.
BFI CEO Ben Roberts echoed this sentiment, noting that Britain continues to attract “some of the most ambitious projects and leading international names to make work in the U.K., while our creativity remains one of our greatest exports.”
