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US films global box office hits high in 2006
(AFP)
Updated: 2007-03-07 09:02

Worldwide box-office earnings for US films reached an all-time high last year, according to industry figures released Tuesday.

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) said global box-office earnings rose to 25.8 billion dollars in 2006, an 11 percent increase on 2005's take of 23.3 billion dollars.

"Last year film audiences around the world demonstrated through strong ticket sales that they love going to the movies," said MPAA chairman Dan Glickman.

The MPAA report also showed an increase in US box-office figures, halting a three-year downward spiral. Earnings reached 9.49 billion dollars in 2006, 5.5 percent up on 2005's total of 8.99 billion dollars.

A record number of Hollywood films were released according to the MPAA, with the number of new productions reaching 607 in 2006, compared to 549 in 2005.