■ Total revenues up 6.3 per cent
■ Higher admissions drove 3.9 per cent increase in retail sales
■ Strong release line-up, scheduled around the Olympics
Disney's new comic book blockbuster The Avengers became the 12th film to take $1bn at the box office, and helped Cineworld to a strong first quarter. As well as helping bring in 3.3 per cent more customers, strong demand for the 3D version and higher weekend attendance helped lift average ticket prices by 5 per cent.
The removal of booking fees did mean a 10.1 per cent drop in other income, but as finance director Philip Bowcock points out that's "baked in" to analysts' forecasts. What's more, the initiative has driven a significant increase in registrations to MyCineworld, data which Cineworld can use to improve marketing and scheduling.
Although Mr Bowcock is wary of the effect the forthcoming Olympics and European Championships will have on cinema attendance, the release pipeline for the rest of the year is strong. Broker Canacord believes there are five or six films capable of taking more than £50m at the box office this year, against just one in 2011 and three in 2010.
