US box office hits record high

Box office takings in North America reached a record high of $9.6bn (£4.6bn) last year, a 5.4% rise on 2006.

The takings were partly due to a 5% rise in ticket prices in the US and Canada. Cinema admissions in 2007 stayed at around the 1.4 billion mark, approximately the same as the previous year.

Meanwhile, worldwide cinema ticket sales rose to an all-time high of $26.7bn.

Dan Glickman, chairman of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), said: "Once again, diverse, quality films and the timeless allure of the movie house proved a winning combination with consumers around the world."

In total, 603 films were produced in 2007. That number may decrease this year due to the WGA strike and the expiring SAG contract sidelining many big budget movies.

Spider-Man 3, Shrek the Third, Transformers and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End all crossed the $300 million barrier at the US box office last year.