Audiences soar as cinemas boom

Cinemas are attracting their biggest audiences for over 30 years.

More than 15million people went to the movies in Britain in July, bringing the total number of admissions so far this year to 102million.

And with sure-fire blockbusters such as the latest James Bond film and the second instalment of Harry Potter to come, forecasters predict this year's figure could be 174million.

That would be the highest since 1971, when the total was 182million and the most popular film was the Disney cartoon the Aristocats.

A survey by the Cinema Advertising Association, which spells out the figures, will end speculation that home videos, satellite TV and DVDs would inevitably kill off the cinema.

Yet the figures will do little to cheer up the British film industry, none of whose movies this year have made it into the top five.

Yesterday, the association described 2002 as a 'fantastic year'. Cinemas had the most successful January since 1972, the highest June figure since 1972 and the best July since 1971.

Sandra Dickinson, of the association's research and marketing department, said: 'It is an absolutely wonderful year for cinemasand film-makers. The number of excellent films on release is the main cause of the success.

'There is terrific depth and breadth, from Lord of the Rings, Monsters Inc, Minority Report, Spider-Man and Ocean's Eleven. There has been something for everyone.'

A number of other factors are thought to have contributed to the figures. The launch of Scooby-Doo to coincide with the beginning of the school holidays proved perfect timing and helped draw in £14.3million.

And this summer's wet weather is thought to have increased Julyon- July audiences by eight per cent as film-lovers flocked to see Austin Powers in Goldmember and the Tom Cruise thriller Minority-Report. The most popular film so far this year has been The Lord of the Rings, the first instalment of a trilogy.

Patrick Frater, international editor of Screen International, said: 'Quite simply, cinemas have been improving in quality over the last ten years.