Studio profits on the up

Could the film industry be emerging from recession?

by Jennie Kermode

Things might be looking up for the film industry, as both Disney and Time Warner declared significantly increased profits for the last few months. Though each business has a number of overlapping commercial concerns, early indications are that their films have been intrumental in bringing about this change.

This could be good news for an industry that has been struggling - even at the top - since the global economic crash of 2008. And it's not just significant for shareholders. Financially confident studios are generally more adventurous about the projects they back and more willing to part-finance independent productions. They are less likely to stick to the relatively sure bets of remakes and sequels.

We'll need to wait at least until the end of the financial year to know if this is a significant trend, but it's certainly an improvement. Other leading studios are yet to release their statements and it is as yet unclear how a US resurgence is likely to affect the wider world.

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