 "Star Wars projected to lift US box office over $11 bn")
The record debut this month of Star Wars: The Force Awakens along with blockbusters like Jurassic World earlier in the year, have put the US movie industry on track to crack $11 billion in ticket sales for the first time ever.
The North American box office, which includes US and Canadian theatres, is forecast to rise 6.3 per cent to $11.01 billion in 2015, Rentrak Corp said Tuesday in an e-mailed statement. That would surpass the current record of $10.92 billion set in 2013.
While the overall number signifies health, studios with massive event movies are outperforming their rivals. Universal Pictures, which released Jurassic World, Furious 7 and Minions, leads the industry with 23 per cent of ticket sales, according to Box Office Mojo. Time Warner Inc, which distributed American Sniper in late 2014, is in second place with 18 per cent.
Walt Disney Co, with only 11 films, follows with 17 per cent. The company's releases include Avengers: Age of Ultron, Inside Out and The Force Awakens, which is still in theatres. The popularity of big films like The Force Awakens could give a boost to future moviegoing by getting people excited about going to cinemas, said Dave Hollis, executive vice-president of distribution at Disney.
The Force Awakens, released officially on December 18, generated a record $248 million in opening-weekend domestic receipts and $529 million globally. Through Monday, Disney estimated the movie had increased its total to $610.8 million.
The North American box office, which includes US and Canadian theatres, is forecast to rise 6.3 per cent to $11.01 billion in 2015, Rentrak Corp said Tuesday in an e-mailed statement. That would surpass the current record of $10.92 billion set in 2013.
While the overall number signifies health, studios with massive event movies are outperforming their rivals. Universal Pictures, which released Jurassic World, Furious 7 and Minions, leads the industry with 23 per cent of ticket sales, according to Box Office Mojo. Time Warner Inc, which distributed American Sniper in late 2014, is in second place with 18 per cent.
Walt Disney Co, with only 11 films, follows with 17 per cent. The company's releases include Avengers: Age of Ultron, Inside Out and The Force Awakens, which is still in theatres. The popularity of big films like The Force Awakens could give a boost to future moviegoing by getting people excited about going to cinemas, said Dave Hollis, executive vice-president of distribution at Disney.
The Force Awakens, released officially on December 18, generated a record $248 million in opening-weekend domestic receipts and $529 million globally. Through Monday, Disney estimated the movie had increased its total to $610.8 million.