As the British Box Office Surges, Exeter Has the Perfect Day Out for Cinephiles
Since Jaws swam onto the big screen on 20 June 1975, the summer has become the season for blockbusters at the cinema. In 2026, the summer box office proved to be a big one, from the big-budget flicks expected to do well, clawing in stacks of cash, to surprise hits making a huge splash.
With broad appeal from Greek mythology and superheroes, two films released mere weeks apart combined for over $4 billion worldwide, while three other films this year have also crossed the $1 billion mark. UK film fans have been a big part of this, and Exeter happens to be home to a great venue that these cinephiles can visit for an intriguing day out.
Cinema is a Staple of British Entertainment
The UK is a major overseas market for Hollywood, often ranking as the biggest or second-biggest, if China shows the film, in the international charts. Low-budget horror sensation Obsession, for example, made $509 million worldwide, $26.6 million of which came from the UK – only trailing China’s $31.6 million.
Cinephiles have been coming out in force across the UK this summer. A big part of the entertainment culture here, the box office in the UK and Ireland enjoyed a 14 per cent bump year-on-year against the first half of last year. To the point of these box-office revenue reports, the UK and Ireland had collected nearly £605 million in ticket sales.
That’s all before the long-hyped The Odyssey arrived, or the latest superhero flick, and before the likes of Obsession and Backrooms finished their respective runs. When an interesting or very familiar story is primed for the big screen, you can bet that the Brits will be coming out in force to enjoy it.
In Exeter, the demand is met by Picturehouse, Vue, Odeon, and even Big Screen in the Park. The fascination with film even spills over into other popular forms of entertainment, as seen by the collection of online casino slot games. The new Cash Inferno game is another official slot entry for its 1980s classic, while Slingo The Godfather remains a hit in the UK for being an official game from one of the most beloved films ever made.
A Different Way to Experience the World of Film
Along with the three cinemas and occasional outdoor cinematic experience available in Exeter, you can also visit the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum. This year, the public museum and research facility has gone big on offering insights through its online blog while also expanding its exhibits to tap into UK trends.
A prime example of this is the Beyond the Samurai: An Introduction to Japanese Cinema, which opened this summer. The premise of the exhibit is that you’ve almost certainly engaged with the most famous and popular cinematic exports from Japan, so here, you can find out more about the history behind the country’s film industry.
Of course, this is just the newest addition to the experience. It holds a collection of over 95,000 items that help to chart the history of film in Britain and include integral works from overseas. Among the most intriguing items is The Godfather in pictures, which is an illustrated pictorial companion to the production of the famed trilogy.
There’s so much to explore, and given the increased interest in returning to the cinema this year, the museum is bound to be of even greater interest to cinephiles across the country.
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