Latest news with #PhilClapp
BBC News
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Cannock cinema bans children from Minecraft movie evening shows
A cinema has banned under-18s from attending evening showings of A Minecraft Movie without an adult, following reports of rowdy Electric Palace Picture House in Cannock, Staffordshire, said children would not be allowed to watch the film unaccompanied after 18:30 film, based on the popular video game, has sparked social media trends of cheering, shouting out iconic lines, throwing popcorn, and fighting with Minecraft swords during cinema apologised, saying: "This decision has not been made lightly." "We are aware of a viral trend on TikTok encouraging people to clap/cheer, shout phrases and throw food during the film," added the cinema in a Facebook post."We appreciate you are excited and have long awaited this film, but for everyone's comfort and enjoyment we kindly request that you do not take part in this trend."The cinema said it had taken the decision due to "disturbances" over the warned anyone caught recording or disrupting showings would be "ejected from the screen without refund". The UK Cinema Association said the response from fans to the film's release last week had been "exceptional", with audience interaction driven by "the desire of young people to share their experiences on social media".Chief executive Phil Clapp said most of the behaviour had been good-natured, but asked fans to be "mindful of the enjoyment of other cinema-goers".The Electric Palace is not the first cinema to issue a warning. Earlier this week, a venue in Oxfordshire told people anyone engaging in "anti-social behaviour" would be kicked out without a film - starring Jason Momoa and Jack Black - tells the story of a group of people pulled into Minecraft's famous cubic underwhelming reviews, it took an estimated $300m (£233m) at the box office during its opening weekend. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Cinema: Ticket sales up as film fans return to big screens
There are signs cinema-going is on the up after a series of financial blows and closures across the industry has been hit by the pandemic, competition from streaming services, rising costs and strikes in America delaying major releases. Southampton, Weymouth, Bournemouth, Oxford and Banbury have all lost cinemas in recent years - although some places have seen alternatives open up. But there are indications audience numbers have begun to recover - with one independent cinema saying there has been a boom in interest in classic films from under-25s. Phil Clapp, chief executive of the UK Film Association, said box office takings held steady in 2024 compared to 2023 and admissions were up - something he described as a "pleasant surprise"."The news is very positive," he said."As we've come into this year, with the likes of Bridget Jones, we're 20% up again. "So I think the prospects for the industry look very strong, not withstanding some of the challenges we continue to face." The future for cinemas has seemed particularly gloomy in Oxford - where two Odeons have closed in the city centre and recent plans have emerged to redevelop the Vue at the Ozone Leisure against the loss of facilities at the site, when it is turned into science laboratories, have attracted thousands of signatures. The developers Pioneer Group have said they are drawing up plans for a replacement cinema, but concerns remain about the prospect of there are signs elsewhere of the industry abandoned Odeon on Magdalen Street in Oxford is set to get a new lease of life, with a licensing application lodged for a new cinema earlier this management at one of Oxford's surviving cinemas, the Ultimate Picture Palace, said ticket sales have been "through the roof". The Ultimate Picture Palace's executive editor, Micaela Tuckwell, said film apps like Letterboxd had helped them find new audiences."[The cinema] was profoundly affected by the pandemic but our audience numbers have gone through the roof last year and even in the first few months of this year," she said."I'm particularly buoyed by the appetite for films by the younger generations - so people who are 25 and under - who are really coming in their droves to see classic films that we're showing."So I think that the future of cinema and seeing films on the big screen is really good." You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
