Overseas Ticket Sales Buoyed Movies in 2011

Movie ticket sales overseas increased enough last year to offset a decline in the U.S. and Canada, leading to an uptick in global box-office receipts, according to a report released by the Motion Picture Association of America.

The world-wide total rose 3% for the year to $32.6 billion, primarily as a result of explosive growth in markets such as China, where sales climbed 35% in 2011. In the U.S. and Canada, receipts fell 4% to $10.2 billion, with 3-D results declining $400 million. Admissions also declined 4%, to 1.28 billion, as the average ticket price essentially remained flat, increasing by just four cents to $7.93, in 2011. The typical U.S. moviegoer purchased 5.8 tickets last year, according to the report. Studios released 45 movies in 3-D last year, 19 more than in 2010. But 3-D films still generated less revenue, since "there wasn't any 'Avatar' in 2011," said John Fithian, president of the National Association of Theatre Owners. More promising domestic results are expected for 2012, given that box-office receipts are up by almost 14% for the year-to-date.