Jamaicans spent a record $435 million at the cinemas last year despite lower attendance.

The reason is that the 11 per cent hike in tickets to $500, outweighed the fall in attendances from 854,700 to some 851,400. Over the year, box office tickets totalled $296 million and the remainder was spent on popcorn, nachos, drinks and so on. That's up about 16 per cent over last year's mediocre sales.

The record for the year (which ends June) is the most money Jamaicans spent even when inflation is factored over the years: The year's spend was US$6.09mn ($71.40/US$1); versus the previous record of US$6.07 million in 2002 (J$48.43/US$1).

What is more is that attendances have been declining from a high of 1.2 million in 1994 to its current figure, according to data from Palace Amusement Co which runs the island's cinemas.
Last year's blockbuster movies according to madeinatlantis.com includes:

. Iron Man which grossed US$567.6 million worldwide;

. Spiderman 3, which grossed US$336.5 million in the US alone;

. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which grossed US$744 million world-wide;

. Shrek the Third, which grossed US$320 million in the US alone;

. Sex and the City, which grossed US$373.2 million world-wide; and

. Jumper which grossed US$222 million world-wide.

The industry is still plagued by lacklustre films, $200 bootlegs and streaming web movies. With increased access to the high speed internet, users can freely steam or download movies. "In respect of taking legal action, the infringement rests with the copyright owners," said Carol Simpson head of Jamaica Intellectual Copyright Organisation which monitors copyright infringement. "Its not only the downloaders but the internet providers (ISPs) who are going to be responsible. I know that illegal downloading has been going on. And the ISPs are also aware of it."

Currently, internet users bypass the cinemas on sites including surfthechannel.com; Privatebay.org; and watch-movies.net. But soon these sites will be replaced by others.

"The more you put in measures to prevent these pirates, the more they find ways to beat the system," she said.

LOCAL BOX OFFICE SALES

Box office sales $296.1 million and confectionary sales $139.3 million in 2008.
Box office sales $250.7 million and confectionary sales $124.7 million in 2007.
Box office sales $213.1 million and confectionary sales $103.9 million in 2006.
Box office sales $245.1 million and confectionary sales $106.4 million in 2005.
Box office sales $241.2 million and confectionary sales $99.5 million in 2003.
Box office sales $207.3 million and confectionary sales $86.9 million in 2002.

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