Cinema of the United Kingdom

Cinema

Main article: Cinema of the United Kingdom

Alfred Hitchcock has been ranked as one of the greatest and most influential British filmmakers of all time.^[533]

The United Kingdom has had a considerable influence on the history of the cinema. The British directors Alfred Hitchcock, whose film Vertigo is considered by some critics as the best film of all time,^[534] and David Lean are among the most critically acclaimed of all-time.^[535] Many British actors have achieved international fame and critical success. Some of the most commercially successful films of all time have been produced in the United Kingdom, including two of the highest-grossing film franchises (Harry Potter and James Bond).^[536] Ealing Studios has a claim to being the oldest continuously working film studio in the world.^[537]

Despite a history of important and successful productions, the industry has often been characterised by a debate about its identity and the level of American and European influence.^{[citation needed]} British producers are active in international co-productions and British actors, directors and crew feature regularly in American films.^{[citation needed]} Many successful Hollywood films have been based on British people, stories or events, including Titanic, The Lord of the Rings, and Pirates of the Caribbean.^{[citation needed]}

In 2009, British films grossed around $2 billion worldwide and achieved a market share of around 7 per cent globally and 17 per cent in the United Kingdom.^[538] UK box-office takings totalled £944 million in 2009, with around 173 million admissions.^[538] The annual British Academy Film Awards are hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.^[539]