A SELF-CONFESSED movie addict visited his local Glasgow cinema more than 200 times in 2022.
Mark Green, 43, visited Showcase Cinema de Lux a whopping 208 times last year, watching an astounding 175 movies throughout the 12 months.
His story came to light after Showcase Cinemas announced in last January that they were searching for the UK's biggest cinema fan among their Insider members.
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Film fanatic Mark was rewarded with an annual pass for 2023 for his loyalty after visiting the cinema around four times a week throughout the year, sometimes watching multiple films per day.
Mark said: "I can’t believe I’ve won an annual pass to Showcase Cinema.
"I knew I went to the cinema a lot, but to think I’ve gone more than anyone else in the country is completely mad.
"The physical act of getting ready to go to the cinema, thinking about what I’m going to watch, the buzz in the screen before the film starts and then the lights dim, and everyone falls silent makes the cinema a much more enjoyable experience to watching a film at home."
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Mark has been a die hard movie fan for as long as he can remember, and says films such as The Goonies, E.T. and Back to the Future defined his childhood.
Over the Covid lockdown, Mark struggled without the big screen, so once cinemas reopened, he more than made up for lost time and cites the quality of new releases and Showcase’s Flashback screenings as a massive motivation.
He said: "I was baptised in the cinematic furnace of the 1980s and Stephen Spielberg pretty much moulded my childhood.
"That’s why I love Showcase Cinemas so much, they’re always screening Flashback films throughout the year, which gives me a chance to see films I used to love back on the big screen.
"There were so many great films in 2022, I really enjoyed Elvis and Avatar: The Way of Water, I even went to watch Avatar eight times in December.
"To win this annual pass is amazing.
"There are loads of films I’m looking forward to including Oppenheimer and Dune: Part Two and of course, whatever Flashbacks Showcase has in store."
Jon Dixon, marketing director at Showcase Cinemas UK, said: "We are delighted to be able to award Mark with an annual pass for 2023.
"Our data shows that he visited the cinema more than any of our Insider members in the country last year, so there is no doubt he is a worthy winner.
"Mark’s dedication to the cinema experience, specifically Showcase, demonstrates our favourite thing about the big screen; seeing people enjoying themselves and becoming completely immersed in another world.
"We’ve got some great films coming up this year, so there is plenty for Mark to get his teeth stuck into…and maybe visit us more than last year."
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