US movies topping EU cinema charts

Date: 27/03/03

By Peter Chapman

HOLLYWOOD continued to dominate European cinema screens during a bumper 2001, latest figures from Eurostat, the EU's statistics agency, reveal.

It found that American films accounted for 65% of EU box office receipts in 2001 - and for around 80% in Spain, the UK, Luxembourg, Greece and Germany.

Only cinema-goers from France (32%) Denmark (28%), Italy (25%) and Sweden (22%) made the effort to see asignificant number of home- produced films.

Overall cinema admissions increased by 10.2% to 930 million during the year, Eurostat said, adding that 2002 data, not yet finalised, are likely to show little change.

The Irish were the most enthusiastic film buffs - with 4.2 admissions per inhabitant, followed by the Spanish (3.6).

But Finns and Greeks preferred other forms of entertainment, making on average just 1.3 trips to see a film.

The EU's favourite film according to the report was American-produced Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - topping the 2001 charts in six member states.

Favourite French films were Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain and La vérité si je mens!

Hollywood continued to dominate European cinema screens during 2001, latest figures from Eurostat, the EU's statistics agency, reveal.