Key Takeaways:
- The U.K.’s home entertainment sector reached an all-time high of £5.7 billion ($7.6 billion) in 2025, marking a 10% increase year-over-year.
- The digital marketplace showed significant strength, with the combined digital sales market rising 4.5% to $328.3 million.
- Physical media maintained its appeal, with a 3.2% increase in the value of Blu-ray sales.
- Streaming remained the dominant viewing choice, with 20.5 million U.K. households subscribing to at least one service.
- British talent dominated the year’s top five home entertainment titles, with Universal’s "Wicked" emerging as the year’s top home entertainment title.
Introduction to the U.K. Home Entertainment Sector
The U.K.’s home entertainment sector has reached new heights, with a record-breaking £5.7 billion ($7.6 billion) in revenue in 2025. This marks a 10% increase from the previous year, with the broader U.K. media and entertainment industry climbing 8% to reach $45.6 billion. The home entertainment sector’s growth can be attributed to the increasing popularity of streaming services, digital transactions, and physical media sales.
Top Home Entertainment Titles
The year’s top home entertainment titles were dominated by British talent, with Universal’s "Wicked" emerging as the top title, generating $23.7 million in combined sales and rentals across all formats. The musical adaptation, which stars British actors Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey, grossed $82 million at the U.K. box office in 2024. Other top titles include Ridley Scott’s "Gladiator II," "Conclave," "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy," and Gareth Edwards’ "Jurassic World: Rebirth."
Digital Marketplace
The digital marketplace showed significant strength, with the combined digital sales market rising 4.5% to $328.3 million. Digital purchases grew 7.4% in value, while the rental market increased 1.7% to reach $183.6 million. Premium video-on-demand releases also expanded, with 79 titles launching at higher price points fresh from theatrical runs in 2025, compared to 62 in 2024. This growth can be attributed to the increasing popularity of streaming services and the introduction of advertising-supported tiers across major streaming platforms.
Physical Media
Physical media maintained its appeal, with a 3.2% increase in the value of Blu-ray sales. Warner Bros. Pictures’ "Superman" (2025) topped the Blu-ray chart, contributing to the increase in the format’s overall value. Classic titles continued to perform strongly, with the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy selling 13,800 units for $1.1 million, while perennial holiday favorites "Elf" and "The Polar Express" moved 120,100 and 77,500 units respectively in the final week of 2025.
Streaming
Streaming remained the dominant viewing choice, with 20.5 million U.K. households subscribing to at least one service, representing 69.5% of the population. Netflix led with 17.6 million subscribers in autumn 2025, bolstered by titles including award-winner "Adolescence" and animated series "KPop Demon Hunters." Prime Video reached 13.6 million homes, while Disney+ served 7.5 million households and Paramount+ reached 3.5 million homes. Smaller platforms also posted gains, with Discovery growing to 3.2 million homes, Apple TV expanding to 2.8 million homes, and Sky’s Now reaching 2 million homes.
U.K. Box Office
The U.K. box office grew 1% in 2025, with Warner Bros. Pictures’ "A Minecraft Movie" leading theatrical revenues at $76.9 million while also capturing sixth place in home entertainment with $10.1 million in sales and rentals. The introduction of advertising-supported tiers across major streaming platforms contributed to the sector’s overall value increase, according to the British Association for Screen Entertainment (BASE).
Conclusion
In conclusion, the U.K. home entertainment sector has reached new heights, with a record-breaking £5.7 billion ($7.6 billion) in revenue in 2025. The sector’s growth can be attributed to the increasing popularity of streaming services, digital transactions, and physical media sales. British talent dominated the year’s top five home entertainment titles, with Universal’s "Wicked" emerging as the year’s top home entertainment title. The sector is expected to continue growing, with the introduction of new technologies and innovations in the entertainment industry.
