Cineworld bounces back on Bond boost but structural changes remain a concern for cinema

Lockdown wiped out 14 years of gains

The release of Daniel Craig’s James Bond swansong No Time To Die has been the key date in much of the cinema industry’s calendar since it was first delayed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, with the trade hoping the blockbuster marks a turning point for a sector devastated by lockdowns.

Cineworld, which owns almost 10,000 screens across ten nations, represents one of UK investors' few options to invest in the cinema business and has often held a role as a bellwether for the industry. Over the past 18 months, its turbulent performance has reflected investor perceptions of the movie trade's persistent forced closures. As the UK entered lockdown in March 2020, the share price for the FTSE 250 stock collapsed, falling nearly 80% in three weeks.  By October 2020, the price had tanked again on renewed lockdowns, down to a low of 24 pence per share, more than wiping out ...