Irish cinemas feel the force as blockbusters bring in €100m

Star Wars: The Force Awakens has helped generate a bumper year for the Irish cinema industry, with overall box office receipts predicted to soar to more than €100m by the end of the year.

Spectre, the latest James Bond blockbuster, was officially the highest-grossing release of the year in Ireland (up to December 20), notching up almost €4.5m.

But industry experts say it’s just a matter of time before the latest Star Wars film tops the list and possibly becomes the most successful movie of all time here.

The Disney smash hit had already entered the top 10 movies chart for 2015 just four days after its December 17 release.

The JJ Abrams-directed film broke box office records around the world for its opening weekend, including Ireland where it earned €836,845 on its opening day — the record for the biggest single day in ticket sales.

The Force Awakens — part of which was shot on Skellig Michael off the Kerry coast — is now expected to challenge Avatar, which grossed €8,702,770, for the title of the most successful movie ever released in Ireland.

Star Wars aside, industry experts said the quality of films over the past 12 months have produced a stellar year for Irish cinema.

Cinema admissions are significantly up on previous years and are expected to exceed 15m by the end of the year.

Box office receipts for the top ten movies of the year are expected to rise above €32m when the final figures are compiled early next year — at least €7m higher than last year’s figure.

Eoin Wrixon, general manager with movie advertising specialists Wide Eye Media, said: “2015 has been a magnificent year for the box office and one of the strongest years for Irish cinema admissions.

"Box office receipts from January 1 to December 20 are at €99,236,904, which is 7% up on the same period last year when receipts were at €93,062,720.

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens had a spectacular opening weekend of €2,111,411 [December 17 to December 20] in the Republic of Ireland, beating Jurassic World, which previously held the record for the highest 2015 opening in Ireland, as well as worldwide.”

There hasn’t been a new entry to the list of the top movies of all time at the Irish box office since 2012.

Mr Wrixon expectsStar Wars to shake up that list. “We’ll just have to wait and see if it can knock Avatar off the top spot, an arduous task even for a phenomenal force like Star Wars.”

Top 10 movies of 2015 (figures from Wide Eye Media, up to December 20)

1. Spectre: €4,488,328

2. Minions: €4,256,670

3. Jurassic World: €4,251,033

4. Inside Out: €3,493,381

5. The Avengers: Age of Ultron: €3,058,685

6. Fast & Furious 7: €2,747,623

7. Fifty Shades of Grey: €2,699,236

8. Brooklyn: €2,549,143

9. Star Wars: The Force Awakens : €2,111,411

10. Hotel Transylvania: €2,102,454

Top 10 movies of all time in Ireland (Source: Wide Eye Media):

1. Avatar (2009): €8,702,770

2. Titanic (1998): €8,253,298

3. Mamma Mia! (2008): €6,310,774

4. The Dark Knight (2008): €6,300,542

5. The Simpsons Movie (2007): €6,144,885

6. Skyfall (2012): €6,006,062

7. Toy Story 3 (2010): €5,720,478

8. Shrek the Third (2007): €5,688,466

9. The Dark Knight Rises (2012): €5,499,254

10. Shrek 2 (2004): €5,258,504