LOS ANGELES (AP) ? Ticket sales for movies shown around the globe rose 3 percent in 2011 to $32.6 billion, thanks largely to growth in booming markets like China. U.S. and Canadian sales fell.
Theatrical revenue from the U.S. and Canada dropped 4 percent to $10.2 billion as attendance fell. Revenue from 3-D movies also decreased compared with 2010, when the release of “Avatar” gave 3-D box office a big boost.
International ticket sales rose 7 percent to $22.4 billion.
Sales in China grew 35 percent to $2 billion, which put the nation behind Japan as the second largest market for movies outside the U.S. and Canada.
