Lupus Films’ Animated Specials Open Strongly in UK Cinemas
Skwigly
The double-feature of Lupus Films’ beautiful, hand-drawn animated specials We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and The Tiger Who Came to Tea has enchanted cinema goers with a solid opening week, ranking third among the highest grossing family titles, behind Shaun the Sheep and Coyote vs. Acme, and 18th overall at the UK & Ireland box office.
Shown in widescreen as double-feature screenings, alongside bonus made-for-cinema content, the films were adapted from the best-selling classic picture books We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, written by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury and published by Walker Books and The Tiger Who Came to Tea, written and illustrated by Judith Kerr and published by HarperCollins Children’s Books.
The two films began screening in cinemas around the country on Friday 25th September and are being distributed in UK and Irish cinemas by Vue Lumière. Lupus Films’ more recent animated specials Mog’s Christmas and Mog’s Bad Thing, based on the books by Judith Kerr and published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, will receive similar screenings in 2027.
The cinema run forms part of Lupus Films’ broader programme of activity around the Judith Kerr properties, with the company continuing to develop licensing and merchandising opportunities for classic Mog and The Tiger Who Came to Tea alongside its contemporary TV brands Mog TV and Tiger TV. A brand-new style guide for The Tiger Who Came to Tea has been produced ahead of BLE for use across multiple categories and experiences.
Lupus Films founder and co-managing director Ruth Fielding said:
The response from audiences over the opening week shows there is a real appetite for shared, cinematic experiences built around these much-loved characters and stories. We’re delighted to be bringing them to a new generation of cinema audiences, while giving long-time fans another way to enjoy them together. We look forward building on this momentum over the coming weeks.
Rachele Parietti, Distribution & Sales Manager at Vue Lumière, added:
We’re thrilled by the opening performance of these two beautifully crafted films. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and The Tiger Who Came to Tea remain beloved by families across generations, and the early audience response demonstrates the enduring appeal of premium family content on the big screen. It has been a pleasure to partner with Lupus Films to bring these much-loved stories back to cinemas, and we look forward to welcoming even more families in the weeks ahead.
Directed by Robin Shaw and written by Joanna Harrison, The Tiger Who Came to Tea is based on Kerr’s timeless children’s classic picture book which has remained continuously in print since its publication in 1968. Screened at Christmas 2019 it became Channel 4’s second most-watched programme of the year and roared to success on the awards circuit picking up numerous awards including an International Kids Emmy for Best Animation.
Adapted from the publishing phenomenon by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury, and shown on Channel 4 over Christmas 2016, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, co-directed by Robin Shaw and Joanna Harrison, drew in over eight million viewers for the channel and earned a BAFTA nomination.