Reflecting a global pattern of box-office growth outstripping that of an increase in cinema admissions, Sweden has seen 2002's first quarter revenues outperform admissions by a factor of 7 to 1.

Yet, despite allowances for inflation and increases in ticket price, Sweden's cinema industry is continuing its upward curve, with 2001 being a record year for local theatres. And according to latest figures from the Swedish Film Institute, 2002 looks like continuing the trend with first quarter admissions up 1% (to 5.2 million) on the same period last year and box office up 7% to $39.7m for the first three months.

During 2001, cinema attendance increased by 7% to 18.1 million admissions (just over 2 visits per capita), the highest result in Sweden since 1989.