Kingston Odeon has seen a huge influx of customers following last week’s release of the new James Bond film, No Time to Die.
No Time to Die has broken British box office records, and in just over a week has become the most popular film of the year.
Manager of the Kingston Odeon Edith said the venue had been buzzing: “We have had 15,000 people so far this week. To put it in perspective, during COVID we had pretty much that in a month.”
Images and listings of Bond dominate the cinema foyer. In fact, around 90% of what is currently showing at the Kingston cinema is No Time to Die.
Originally due to be released 18 months ago in March 2020, the film’s release on 30 September marks the first time that many viewers have been back in the cinema since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is the busiest we have seen it in about three or four months… We have had a lot of people come back, especially the elderly generation,” said Drashti, a host at the cinema.
The 007 film was directed by American Cary Joji Fukunaga, and stars Daniel Craig, Lea Seydoux, Rami Malek and Lashana Lynch. It was Craig’s final appearance as the infamous Bond.
The film industry hopes that the blockbuster will get enough box office hits to reverse the damage done by the pandemic. A 2020 report by The Motion Picture Association showed that the European box office market decreased by 68 percent over 2019. The UK was the main driving force for this, recording a 75 percent decrease in market sales.
Regarding COVID-19 measures, Odeon cinemas are providing hand sanitiser around the complex, as well as regular cleaning to screens and toilets. They are encouraging but not enforcing social distancing, and asking customers to wear a face mask. Due to most of the viewings being sold out, social distancing seems like a distant memory, however.
The film is set to make even more box office sales as it remains in Kingston’s Odeon as well as nation-wide cinemas for at least a few more weeks.
