Cineworld banks on 3D hits after World Cup blip

The UK's second biggest cinema chain said there were a significant number of movies to be screened in the 3D format this year, including Shrek Forever After and Toy Story 3 during the school holidays.

It reported revenues growth of 3.7 per cent in the first 26 weeks of the year, compared with 13.9 per cent over the first 18 weeks of the period after the football tournament proved a major distraction for cinemagoers.

Cineworld said the performance was in line with expectations after the success of Avatar and Alice in Wonderland in the first quarter of the year.

Its box office share increased during the half-year period to 24.3 per cent from 23.5 per cent in 2009 after a 4.1 per cent rise in revenues from admissions.

Pressure on consumer spending meant retail revenues were 3.2 per cent lower, although income from screen advertising, ticket booking fees, screen hire and the sale of 3D glasses was up 31.4 per cent on a year earlier.

Other films due for release in 3D this year include Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

Cineworld added: "This strong line up of films together with our performance to date underpins our confidence in the overall outlook for the year."