UCI Ireland sees revenue rise on back of ‘La La Land’ and ‘Star Wars’

UCI, which operates in the Republic under the Odeon brand name, saw revenues rise last year on the back of high attendances for a number of Hollywood blockbusters.

But it still fell to a loss for the year.

The company, which has 11 cinemas with 77 screens here, said turnover rose 4 per cent last year to €34 million from €32.5 million. A breakdown shows that box office revenues rose to €21 million from a restated €19.6 million.

In addition, retail revenues edged up to €11.2 million while screen advertising income rose slightly to €705 million.

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UCI said the most popular films at its chain last year included Star Wars: The Last Jedi, La La Land and Beauty & the Beast.

Despite the rise in turnover, United Cinemas International (Ireland) Limited reported a €394,000 loss as against a restated €372,000 profit a year earlier.

AMC acquired the Odeon and UCI brands from private equity firm Terra Firma in a $1.2 billion deal in late November 2016, in a move that created the largest cinema group in the world.

UCI, which has 18 per cent market share in the Republic, said it maintained its share last year. The company employed 415 people locally in 2017 with staff costs totalling €5.9 million.