A SURVEY by the owner of Basildon’s Empire cinema complex chain has given it a better idea what attracts film fans to the cinema.

The Empire, chain, which runs the multiplex at Basildon’s Festival Leisure Park, says its survey suggested 65 per cent of customers picked a film they thought would make them happy, while 58 per cent were looking for a good laugh.

One cinemagoer in ten claimed watching a film had helped them tackle a difficult issues in their lives.

The study also showed watching a romantic comedy helped 14 per cent of those questioned feel closer to their partners, while watching a comedy acted as stress relief for almost a third of people.

Jon Nutton, marketing director for Empire, said: “People have been at their happiest, saddest and most inspired while watching films, which is evidence of the power of film and cinema and why it’s such a celebrated industry.

Chief executive Justin Ribbons, added: “Film plays an important role in people’s lives and it’s clear that it takes us on an emotional journey where we feel a huge range of feelings.”

The Basildon Empire cinema underwent an overhaul this year and now has a stateof- the-art Imax screen in one of its auditoria.

Its curved screen displays high-resolution films in 3D.