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Made in the UK: 10 highest grossing films of 2021
Posted on December 09, 2021
(about 6 minutes to read)
2021 was a strange year for film, with Covid-19 restrictions in place for much of the first half. But the UK was ready to make up for lost time when cinemas reopened in June, and with so many great productions, we were spoiled for choice.
To celebrate the best of UK cinema, we’ve put together a list of the highest grossing films at the British box office which were made (at least partially) in the UK. We’re so proud to see that our tech powered 70% of the top 10!
10. People Just Do Nothing: Big In Japan
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Background casting agent: Slick Casting
Distributor: Universal Pictures International
UK locations: Pinewood Studios (Buckinghamshire)
Release date: 18 August 2021
British box office gross: £2.4m
Kickstarting our countdown is People Just Do Nothing: Big In Japan, the feature length spin-off of the wildly popular mockumentary series of the same name. The film sees pirate radio crew Kurupt FM - led by self-proclaimed garage legend MC Grindah (Allan Mustafa) - travel to Tokyo with manager Chabuddy G (Asim Chaudhry) to secure a record deal. While some shows never quite make the transition to the silver screen, People Just Do Nothing definitely isn’t one of them.
9. Spencer
Distributor: STX Entertainment
UK locations: London and Norfolk
Release date: 5 November 2021
British box office gross: £2.7m
Coming in at number nine is Pablo Larrain’s acclaimed portrayal of the one and only Lady Di. In a dazzling performance, Kristen Stewart embodies the late princess as she struggles with her mental health (and her marriage) while Christmassing with the royal family at Sandringham. Part psychological drama, part historical fiction, Spencer is much more than your average biopic.
8. Ron’s Gone Wrong
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
UK locations: London
Release date: 15 October 2021
British box office gross: £4.7m
Eighth place goes to Ron's Gone Wrong, a poignant story of socially awkward schoolboy Barney and his new robot friend, Ron. It’s quickly apparent that Ron is a dud, but his hilarious malfunctions make way for an action-packed exploration of friendship in the digital age.
7. Cruella
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Background casting agent: Sally King Casting
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
UK locations: Shepperton Studios (Surrey), Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Reading and London
Release date: 28 May 2021
British box office gross: £9.8m
Everyone loves a villain, so it’s even better when a film gives you two. Coming in at number seven is Cruella, the fashion-forward origin story of the infamous Dalmation hunter. With devilishly good performances by Emma Stone and Emma Thompson and an epic wardrobe and soundtrack to boot, Cruella will leave you wanting more. Luckily, Disney has already confirmed a sequel.
6. Eternals
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Background casting agent: Two10 Casting
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
UK locations: Pinewood Studios (Buckinghamshire), Oxford and London
Release date: 5 November 2021
British box office gross: £14.7m
In sixth place we have Marvel Studios’ star-studded Eternals, which sees a new team of superheroes forced out of the shadows to save humankind from our oldest enemy, the Deviants. Widely recognised for its LGBTQ+ representation and cultural diversity, Eternals is Marvel like you’ve never seen before.
5. F9: The Fast Saga
Distributor: Universal Pictures
UK locations: Leavesdon Studios (Herftordshire), London and Edinburgh
Release date: 25 June 2021
British box office gross: £17.2m
Driving into fifth place is the ninth (yes, ninth) instalment in the Fast and Furious franchise, F9: The Fast Saga. This time, Dom (Vin Diesel) and his crew must take on an international terrorist, who turns out to be Dom's estranged brother. Culminating in an intergalactic car ride, F9 is absurd, outlandish and wildly popular, raking in more than £550m at the global box office.
4. Venom: Let There Be Carnage
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Background casting agent: Two10 Casting
Distributor: Sony Pictures Releasing
UK locations: Leavesdon Studios (Hertfordshire)
Release date: 15 October 2021
British box office gross: £18m
Just missing out on a medal is Sony’s Venom: Let There Be Carnage. Still, as it smashed box office expectations, raking in more than £365m worldwide, we’d call the return of Tom Hardy and his alien symbiote a success. And given the rave reviews, it’s no surprise that Sony has already confirmed a third movie. But we’ll have to wait and see whether those rumours about a certain Spider-Man are true.
3. Black Widow
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Background casting agent: Services to Film
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
UK locations: Pinewood Studios (Buckinghamshire)
Release date: 7 July 2021
British box office gross: £19.5m
In third place is Disney’s Black Widow, the origin story of Scarlett Johansson’s Avengers character, former KGB spy Natasha Romanoff. Released simultaneously in theatres and on Disney’s streaming platform, Black Widow still set a 2021 box office record on its release, making £6.9 million at the UK-Ireland box office in its opening weekend.
2. Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway
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Background casting agent: Extra People
Distributor: Sony Pictures Releasing
UK locations: Cumbria, Gloucestershire and London
Release date: 17 May 2021
British box office gross: £20.6m
The silver medal this year goes to Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway. In this long-awaited sequel, much-loved troublemaker Peter ventures out of the garden into a world where his mischief is appreciated. Topping the UK box office on the first day that cinemas were allowed to reopen following lockdown, it’s clear that Peter remains a national treasure.
1. No Time to Die
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Background casting agent: Key Casting
Distributor: Universal Pictures
UK locations: Pinewood Studios (Buckinghamshire) and London
Release date: 30 September 2021
British box office gross: £96m
Storming into first place at the British box office is - you guessed it - No Time To Die. The latest James Bond film is the third-biggest UK release ever, behind Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Skyfall. Originally scheduled to premiere in April 2020, fans couldn’t wait to see Daniel Craig’s last stint as 007, with the film grossing more over its opening weekend than any other Bond film. As we say goodbye to Craig, we of course turn our attention to the eternal question: who will be the next James Bond?
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