Blockbuster time at Cineworld sees increase in audiences

A new Star Wars film and another instalment of the Hunger Games: Mockingjay series should help to fill Cineworld seats this autumn, after takings climbed steadily in the first half.

The promising release schedule follows a solid first-half performance with group revenues up 11.2 per cent.

Unlike last summer, when film releases were judged to be generally poor, summer blockbusters including Jurassic World and Minions have been drawing audiences.

Israel Greidinger, Cineworld’s deputy chief executive, said: “You can never really know how well a film is going to do until it’s out, but the release schedule does look very strong.”

Mr Greidinger and his brother Mooky, who emerged with a 29 per cent stake in the company after their Cinema City merged with Cineworld last year, are also hunting for a new finance director after Phil Bowcock quit the company unexpectedly last month.

Mr Bowcock helped to steer the merger and a rights issue through, but resigned “to pursue other interests”.

Cineworld will open six cinemas in the UK this year, but most of its openings will be in central and eastern Europe.