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Britain's biggest cinema chains are resisting attempts by United Intl. Pictures to extract the highest percentage ever in the U.K. for playing "Jurassic Park."

Distribs have long complained that rental terms in the U.K. are among Europe's lowest, averaging 37% to 39% of gross receipts for the distributor. In Germany, by comparison, 48% is the norm.

The Universal pic is slated to bow here July 16. Exhibs continue negotiating with UIP while sticking to the line that they can't afford to pay the higher rate.

Most film deals are based on a sliding percentage of B.O. receipts after deducting the house nut; for top-drawer films, the distrib/exhit split is usually 90%/10% after the house costs are met.

UIP, Universal's distrib, is said to seek a 60% minimum for the first two weeks, regardless of the house costs.

Warner Bros. set a new benchmark last year when it obtained 50% of the gross for the first two weeks of "Batman Returns" and "Lethal Weapon 3."

Some exhibs reckoned that formula cost them a lot of money and they won't repeat it.

In an unprecedented move, the Rank Odeon chain pulled "Jurassic Park" trailers from all its cinemas April 30 when it appeared that negotiations with UIP had stalled. The trailers were reinstated May 7, suggesting the two parties are making progress.

Stan Fishman, Rank Odeon booking director, would say only that "We are continuing with our normal method of negotiation." Chris Hedges, UIP's U.K. managing director, declined comment on what he described as "a matter between our customers and ourselves."

National Amusements CEO Ira Korff said, "I am sure UIP will not have any problem playing the picture in our Showcase cinemas on standard terms because the picture will earn what they want anyway." No U.K. exhib has passed on a major movie in almost 20 years, when Rank declined to show "Jaws"-- ironically, also a Universal/Steven Spielberg film.

But some indies who don't have to program multiplexes figure they could survive without it because of the wealth of such summer releases as "Last Action Hero,""Hot Shots, Part Deux,""Cliffhanger" and "Super Mario Bros."