2024 has been an unusual one for film; for every Wicked or Dune: Part II wowing audiences in the aisles, we also had to contend with Madame Web and Kraven The Hunter.
Seems unfair I picked two Sony Spider-Man Universe films but the numbers don’t lie…
Though perhaps the trip to the cinema wasn’t a fervent as the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon in 2023, the past twelve months has still had its fair share of successes, according to Head of Screen Content at Vue UK & Ireland, Rob Lea: “It’s been an amazing year for family film, reflected both in our box office performances for 2024 as well as Vue’s top 10 films, as voted for by customers.
If 2024 was the year of the family film, 2025 looks to be that of the musical biopic, at least according to Lea: ““Following on from the recent successes of Back to Black and Bob Marley: One Love, 2025 is set to be another fantastic year for musical biopics, with titles such as A Complete Unknown (based on the life of Bob Dylan) and Michael (based on the life of Michael Jackson) arriving in the new year.
Meanwhile, productions on films covering megastars Bruce Springsteen and The Beatles will be well on the way. Roll on, 2025.”
But before we ring in the new year, there’s the small matter of what the most popular film in UK cinemas was over the last 12 months; and not based solely on box office totals. These 10 movies are based on the opinion of cinemagoers Vue interviewed as part of their end-of-year research.
So you know that it’s a solid opinion based on the masses rather than the critics…
So - what are the 10 most popular films people went to see in the cinemas in 2024?

5. Moana 2
Moana 2 was the UK cinemagoing public's fifth favourite film of 2024. Despite middling reviews, the film has gone on to become a box office smash, ahead of the live-action remake of the original in 2025. Moana 2 is still in cinemas to watch as of writing. | Disney

6. Paddington in Peru
The beloved Paddington returned to cinemas earlier this year with his third exploit, Paddington in Peru. The film once again was a box office hit, earning just short of £10m during it's opening weekend at the box office. The film is still screening in cinemas as of Christmas week 2024. | Provided

7. Migration
With voice acting talent including Elizabeth Banks (pictured), Migration was the seventh most popular cinematic treat for audiences in 2024. The film is available to stream for Sky Cinema customers. | Universal

8. Kung Fu Panda 3
Jack Black's affable, if not sometimes clumsy, Po returned this year for Kung Fu Panda 4, which came eighth in Vue's list of the most popular films with UK cinemagoers in 2024. The film can be rented or purchased through all digital retailers. | Provided