A look at cinema industry’s big 5

Movies, where would we be without them? Where would we gain our understanding of the world and life for that matter without the input of what we see on the big screen? The cinema industry is one of the most powerful and influential industries in the world. This success comes from a long history and popularity of films that has led to an increase in ticket sales, as well as other revenue streams such as product placement. Even with its recent decline due to streaming services like Netflix, it’s still a multi-billion dollar industry that keeps on growing. The fact of the matter is that despite the rise of the streaming giants and the major push-back caused by the global health crises, the cinema remains something that people gravitate towards. The darkness of the theatre provides escapism, as does the film itself. In terms of couples and dating, few things can beat going to the cinema. Everyone is politely asked to switch off or at least place their smartphones on silence, thus creating an atmosphere of total immersion. With all this in mind, let us now look at who the big players are in the world of cinema.

Hollywood

Let’s start with the most obvious one of the lot, Hollywood. Hollywood has made a lasting impact on our society with its audience-grabbing box office hits. It is the 4th most popular form of entertainment in the United States with over $10 billion per year in movie tickets sold, and it continues to grow annually. Hollywood has always been a powerful force in the psyche of the American people and the world at large. It has shaped and moulded our culture and values through its portrayal of heroes, villains, and love interests. Hollywood is known for creating larger than life characters that we tend to emulate in real life. These heroes often start off on screen as tragic figures who overcome great challenges with hard work and perseverance.

Bollywood

Bollywood has grown beyond just being a source of entertainment. It is now an industry that influences fashion, music, dance and even foreign policy in India. If one were to go purely by volume, then Bollywood trumps Hollywood. There are more than 1000 films released every year with an audience of about 1 billion people. Hollywood on the other hand manages an average of 500 to 800 movies a year.

The United Kingdom

The UK’s film industry is one of the most important in Europe and the second largest within the European Union. It contributed £4.3 billion to the UK economy in 2015, employs over 116,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff and supports some 40,000 businesses across all regions of the UK. The Brits have also given the world some of cinema’s finest films. Outside of nurturing some of the best early talents, the likes of David Lean, the UK has served as a location for some the biggest grossing films made in the history of film. The James Bond franchise has always been primarily shot at Pinewood Studios. George Lucas’ original 1977 Star Wars was shot in the UK, as was 1978’s Superman The Move, and Tim Burton’s 1989’s Batman. The UK’s talent pool is extensive to say the least, which is why there are so many share owners in UK production companies.

Cinema of China

The Chinese film industry is a global powerhouse, but many people don’t know much about it. China is the world’s second largest film market, after the U.S., and has been growing at a rate of around 20% annually for over a decade. The Chinese box office hit RMB 45 billion in 2015, and was worth $6.78 billion in the same year.

Cinema of Japan

The film industry is no stranger to Japan, and in fact it has been a driving force in the country’s economy for decades. Japanese cinema has truly inspired the world. In the early 90s their animated movies introduced Western audiences to adult themes when they least expected it, creating what is now a global thirst for Japanese anime. To date, the Japanese film industry is the 4th largest in the world.