Production spend on big budget UK film and TV projects up 22%

Official figures from the BFI’s Research and Statistics Unit show that film and high-end TV production spend in the UK was £6.8 billion in 2025, a 22 per cent increase on 2024’s first reported figures, demonstrating the sector has regained solid momentum.

The majority of the total £6.8 billion production spend was contributed by High End TV (HETV), which accounted for £4 billion (59 per cent of the total spend), which is up 17 per cent on 2024 figures and the third highest since the introduction of the UK's tax relief on productions of this type.

Feature film production contributed £2.8 billion (41 per cent of the total spend) which is up 31 per cent on 2024 figures, and the highest annual spend on record.

Inward investment films and HETV shows combined delivered £5.8 billion, or 85 per cent of the combined production spend, continuing to demonstrate the UK’s global reputation as a world-leading centre for international film and TV production.

Across film and HETV, the total number of productions in 2025 is lower than in recent years but the spend is higher. HETV co-productions accounted more than four times the amount first reported in 2024(£20 million), and the highest amount of co-production spend since the introduction of HETVTax Relief.

The UK Box Office generated £996.8 million in 2025, up 2 per cent on 2024 and down 21 per cent on 2019. This was from 123.5 million admissions, 2 per cent lower than 2024. A Minecraft Movie was the highest earning release at the UK and Republic of Ireland box office with £56.9 million.

UK-shot films in the top 10 were Wicked: For Good at number two (£47 million), Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy at number three (£46.4 million), Jurassic World Rebirth at six (£36.1 million), Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning at nine (£26.4 million) and The Fantastic Four: First Steps at 10 (£24 million).

The top five UK independent films at the UK and ROI box office in 2025 were The Roses (£10.3 million), We Live In Time (£8.8 million), The Salt Path (£8.1 million), I Swear (£6.1 million) and The Choral (£4.2 million). The market share of UK independent films was 6.8 per cent,compared with 6.9% in 2024.

Full release.

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