Brazilian cinema admissions during the first half of 2001 have surged by 23%, compared to the same period last year, according to local marketing research company Filme B. While Brazilian cinemas saw 6.9 million admissions between January and July 2000, a massive 8.5 million visits were recorded during the same period this year.

With local ticket prices increasing over the period, gross earnings were up from $14m (Real 34m) in 2000 to $19m (Real 46m) this year. While there was only one stand-out blockbuster, Disney's animated feature Dinosaur, during the first half of last year, several titles have attracted high admissions so far in 2001, notably: Jurassic Park III, Lara Croft Tomb Raider, Dr Doolittle 2, Atlantis and Shrek.

However, the first half of 2001 has not quite topped the record set in 1999 of 8.6m. August has been dominated by Tim Burton's Planet Of The Apes, which has grabbed a 45% share of the market.

Brazil's first half year results

Year'.Admissions''Gross (Real)
'97''.5.7m'''''28.0m
'98''.7.6m''''...35.4m
'99''.8.6m.''''..42.2m
'00''.6.9m'''''34.0m
'01''.8.5m'''''46.0m
Exc Rate: $1 = Real 2.42

Cinema Screens in Latin America 1995-2000

Year'Mexico'..Brazil'Argentina'Colombia'Chile'Peru'Venezuela
1995'.1495''.1033''.427'''..299''..142'...102''.214
1996'.1639''.1365''.499'''..280''..128'...113''.213
1997'.1842''.1075''.608'''..263''..141'...123''.233
1998'.2105''.1300''.830'''..255''..208'...148''.284
1999'.2320''.1350''.876'''..284''..255'...132''.275
2000'.2300''.1451''.900'''..320''..265'...135''.280