Lord of the Rings ensures UK distributor's fortune

Peter Jackson's epic Lord of the Rings trilogy has made its UK distribution company the most profitable firm in the country..

13:44 04 April 2004

Peter Jackson's epic Lord of the Rings trilogy has made its UK distribution company the most profitable firm in the country.

Profits of the London-based Entertainment Group increased 197% a year between 2000 and 2003 from 2.4 million to 61.6 million. This increase is primarily due to the company having exclusive rights to distributing Mr Jackson's Oscar-grabbing movies in the UK.

According to the Profit Track 100 Sunday Times PWC survey, these staggering gains represent the fastest growing profits in the UK.

The company, which took a cut of the trilogy's UK box office to the tune of 57 million per film, was founded by Michael Green in 1978 and is currently run by his sons, Nigel and Trevor Green.

The Entertainment Group also receives a cut of the movies' DVD and video sales and rentals in the UK, ensuring continued revenue from its Lord of the Rings connection.