Entertainment One enjoys blockbuster boost

Films such as Behind the Candelabra, starring Michael Douglas as Liberace The Big Wedding and Now You See Me helped movie distributor Entertainment One to yesterday post a 40 per cent year-on-year rise in first-quarter revenues.

Behind The Candelabra starring Michael Douglas. Picture: Complimentary

Box office takings rose three-fold to $68 million (£44m), with DVD releases including Django Unchained and Silver Linings Playbook helping total film revenues to increase by 65 per cent.

Spending on further titles is expected to increase to £250m this year from £219m last year, with forthcoming releases including Ender’s Game, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Red 2.

Entertainment One hailed the continued success of its Peppa Pig television series in the United States and said that three of its programmes – Haven, Hell on Wheels and Saving Hope – had all been recommissioned.

Edison analyst Jane Anscombe said: “Individual titles should not be over-emphasised, but we note that upcoming films include Red 2 and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.”