MUMBAI: The Motion Picture Association of America‘s (MPAA) annual Theatrical Market Statistics Report for 2012 shows that global box office receipts for all films released around the world reached $34.7 billion in 2012, an increase of 6 per cent over 2011.
U.S./Canada box office was up 6 per cent over last year to $10.8 billion, due to a 6 per cent increase in admissions to 1.36 billion. Domestic ticket prices remained flat in 2012.
"I am happy to report that in 2012, both global and domestic box office was up and so were domestic admissions," said MPAA Chairman and CEO Senator Chris Dodd.
"Great storytelling, memorable characters and an ever-innovating theater experience brought more people around the world to the movie theater in 2012 than ever before. It‘s a powerful reminder of just how much movies matter - not just to our culture, but also to our economy. Our industry supports 2.1 million jobs in the United States and more than 120,000 of those jobs are in movie theaters. So as you‘re looking at this report, it‘s important to remember the real economic impact these numbers have."
International box office was also up in 2012, driven by growing markets like Russia, Brazil and China, which grew by 36 per cent in 2012 to become the largest international market, surpassing Japan. 2012 also marked the first year that digital screens surpassed analog screens in international market share. Over two-thirds of the world‘s nearly 130,000 cinema screens are now digital.
"The cinema industry serves an increasingly diverse audience, by age, gender and ethnicity," said National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) President and CEO John Fithian. "The record box office, here and abroad, shows that when we meet that diversity with a broad range of movies and amenities, cutting edge technologies and viewing options our industry thrives."
In the US and Canada, 3D box office was comparable to 2011 levels at $1.8 billion, despite fewer 3D film releases.
More than two-thirds of the U.S./Canada population - 225 million people - went to the movies at least once in 2012, consistent with prior years. Cinema ticket sales continue to be driven by frequent moviegoers - those who go to the movies once a month or more. Frequent moviegoers represent 13 per cent of the population but purchased 57 per cent of all tickets sold in 2012.