The gaming industry is massive.

Various sources estimate that the global gaming market generated over $200 billion in 2024. In the UK, the gaming sector is worth more than the domestic music and film industries put together. This isn’t an isolated case – gaming is bigger than other entertainment sectors all around the world.

And its power and influence is brilliantly illustrated by what’s happening in cinema.

The Minecraft Movie has just opened, and is breaking box office records. By all accounts it’s crap – but that doesn’t matter a jot.

Minecraft is the most successful computer game of all time by most measures, and so kids have turned out in their droves.

But look more closely, and it isn’t just Minecraft that’s saving cinemas.

Last year, computer game spin-off Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was one of the 10 highest earners at the global box office. In 2023, The Super Mario Bros. Movie was the second highest-grossing film worldwide. 

What’s more, movies like Minecraft, Sonic, and Super Mario are drawing a disproportionately young audience to the cinema – many for the first time.

It isn’t too much of a stretch to say that gaming is helping to save cinema.

And I wonder if it could breathe life into some dormant corners of retail too.

To read the rest of this post, subscribe to our Substack newsletter for free.