JAMAICANS spent a record $299.5 million at the cinemas over six-months to December 2009 which was 32 per cent more year-on-year due to blockbusters including Avatar and price increases.

Box office tickets were $210.4 million with an additional $89.1 million spent on popcorn, nachos, drinks, and so on, according to just-released data from Palace Amusement Co which runs the island's cinemas. The company increased prices during the period, by some 10 per cent but saw its box office tickets grow 35 per cent, indicating that movies such as Avatar and others attracted larger audiences. Up to press time, Palace did not respond to Observer queries on theatre attendance, especially for Avatar -- released locally in December to continuous sold-out shows. Box Office Mojo stated in January that Avatar was the top-grossing movie in 24 countries, including Jamaica.

Box office receipts at various local theatres were $113.8 million, $40.2 million, $42.2 million and $14.2 million at Carib Cinema, Palace Cineplex, Place Multiplex and Odeon Cineplex respectively; while confectionery sales at these theatres were $49.2 million, $17.2 million, $16.4 million and $6.3 million respectively.

The six-month review period when annualised would be $599 million or US$6.69 million -- the most Jamaicans ever spent at the movies, even discounting inflation. The previous record was US$6.09 million ($71.40/US$1) in the 2009 financial year ending June. In fact, attendance at cinemas has been declining from a high of 1.2 million in 1994 to under 900,000, according to data from Palace's annual reports.

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," stated Carol Simpson, head of Jamaica Intellectual Copyright Organisation, which monitors copyright infringement in a previous interview with the Observer. "It's 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.

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

Blockbuster movies (July to December) according to madeinatlantis.com includes: Avatar which grossed over US$1.9 billion worldwide; Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, which grossed US$869 million worldwide; G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, which grossed US$294.2 million worldwide; Michael Jackson's This Is It, which grossed US$257 million worldwide; G-Force, which grossed US$169.7 million worldwide; and District 9, which grossed US$126 million worldwide alone.

LOCAL BOX OFFICE SALES

(financial year ending June)

Box office sales $316.5 million and confectionery sales $143.4 million in 2009

Box office sales $296.1million and confectionery sales $139.3 million in 2008.

Box office sales $250.7 million and confectionery sales $124.7 million in 2007.

Box office sales $213.1 million and confectionery sales $103.9 million in 2006.

Box office sales $245.1 million and confectionery sales $106.4 million in 2005.

Box office sales $241.2 million and confectionery sales $99.5 million in 2003.

Box office sales $207.3 million and confectionery sales $86.9 million in 2002.