August was a blockbuster month at the U.K. and Ireland box office, raking in an impressive £120.2 million ($158.2 million), according to Comscore. While it didn’t quite match July’s massive £160 million ($210.5 million) “Barbenheimer” event, the month’s performance was the strongest since, signaling a solid recovery for cinemas. Year-to-date figures are catching up to last year, narrowing the gap from a 15% deficit at the beginning of the month to 12% by its close.
Leading the charge was Disney’s “Deadpool & Wolverine”, which sliced through the competition with £29.7 million, bringing its total to £55.3 million. This latest entry in the Deadpool series is already a box office heavyweight, now ranking as the third-highest grossing 15-rated film in U.K. history, trailing only Warner Bros.’ “Joker” (£58.2 million) and Universal’s “Oppenheimer” (£59.7 million).
In second place, Sony’s “It Ends With Us” pulled in £19.4 million, making it the seventh-highest grossing film of 2024 so far and marking Blake Lively’s biggest box office success in the region. Meanwhile, Universal’s “Despicable Me 4” continues to attract families, adding £16.9 million to its haul for a cumulative £45.2 million. The animated sequel is tracking well against its predecessors, holding steady as one of the franchise’s top performers.
In the horror category, Disney’s “Alien: Romulus” took fourth place, debuting with £11.5 million. The film, directed by Fede Alvarez, is now his highest-grossing work and stands as 2024’s top horror release in the U.K. Disney’s “Inside Out 2” kept up its strong showing in fifth place, contributing another £7.2 million to its £58.4 million total, solidifying its place as the third-highest grossing animated movie in the region’s history.
Warner Bros.’ “Twisters” continued to stir up revenue, adding £5.2 million for a total of £14.2 million. Another Warner Bros. title, “Trap,” brought in £3.7 million, while Trafalgar Releasing’s re-release of “Coraline” added £3.2 million to the box office, capitalizing on nostalgia for the film’s 15th anniversary. Other notable performers include Sony’s “Harold and the Purple Crayon” with £2.9 million and Warner Bros.’ “Blink Twice” with £2.2 million.
September Movie Preview: From Thrillers to Superheroes
Looking ahead, September is set to continue the box office momentum with a diverse slate of films. Warner Bros.’ “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” directed by Tim Burton and starring Michael Keaton and Jenna Ortega, is primed to kick off the month with plenty of buzz. Meanwhile, horror fans can look forward to Universal’s “Speak No Evil,” a chilling remake led by James McAvoy.
Mid-month brings more variety, including Studiocanal’s “Lee,” a war biopic starring Kate Winslet, and Lionsgate’s “The Critic,” featuring the legendary Ian McKellen and Gemma Arterton. For family audiences, Signature Entertainment is offering the animated sequel “200% Wolf,” while Mubi’s release of “The Substance,” a body horror thriller starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley, will appeal to more niche audiences.
Fantasy and superhero films will also make their mark in September. Vertigo Releasing brings “Dragonkeeper,” an animated fantasy adventure, to screens, while Icon Film Distribution releases “Hellboy: The Crooked Man,” a fresh take on the iconic superhero horror series.
As the month wraps up, the spotlight turns to Francis Ford Coppola’s “Megalopolis,” one of the year’s most highly anticipated films. Released by United Artists Releasing, it’s expected to attract a mix of cinephiles and casual moviegoers. Also debuting late in the month is Lionsgate’s “Never Let Go,” a survival thriller, and Studiocanal’s “The Outrun,” starring Saoirse Ronan, rounding out what promises to be a packed and exciting month for cinema.
With a dynamic mix of genres and big-name talent, September’s box office is set to keep audiences engaged and the momentum rolling for what has already been an impressive year at the movies.
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