UK admissions rose 6% year-on-year for the first half of 2006, according to the country's distributors' organisation.

Visitor numbers rose to 76.9 million with box-office revenues reaching $815m (£396.8m.)

The figures from the Film Distributor's Association highlight two key factors:

The popularity of local films, including Mr Bean's Holiday, Hot Fuzz , Miss Potter, The Last King of Scotland and Notes on a Scandal.

And the success of major franchises, including the country's number-one film Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.

Some 246 films received a UK cinema release between January and June.

Other statistics in the report show:

  • UK film distributors spent $170m (£82.4m) in media advertising
  • $70m (£34.2m) on TV spots
  • $60m (£28.8m) on outdoor poster panels
  • $28m (£13.6m) on press advertising.

'Coming off such a strong start to the year, this summer's wonderful line-up is already attracting cinemagoers in record numbers,' said Film Distributors' Association Chief Executive, Mark Batey.

The Top 20 films in UK cinemasJanuary-June 2007

1) Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End (BVI) $79.9m (£39.1m)
2) Spider-man 3 (SPRI) $68.7m (£33.5m)
3) Mr Bean's Holiday (UPI) $45.3m (£22.1m)
4) Hot Fuzz (UPI) $42.9m (£21m)
5) Shrek The Third (PPI) $33.9m (£16.6)
6) 300 (Warner Bros) $28.8m (£14.1)
7) Ocean's Thirteen (Warner Bros) $23.3,(£11.4m)
8) Charlotte's Web (PPI) $21.8m (£10.7m)
9) Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer (Fox) $20.8m (£10.2)
10) The Pursuit Of Happyness (SPRI) $19.4m (£9.5m)
11) Music And Lyrics (Warner Bros) $18.2m (£8.9m)
12) Rocky Balboa (Fox) $ (£8.7m)
13) Blood Diamond (Warner Bros) $15.2m (£7.4m)
14) Miss Potter (Momentum) $12.5m (£6.1m)
15) Wild Hogs (BVI) $12.1m (£5.9m)
16) Blades Of Glory (PPI) $11.8m (£5.8m)
17) Norbit (PPI) $11.7m (£5.7m)
18) Notes On A Scandal (Fox) $11.2m (£5.5m)
19) The Last King Of Scotland (Fox) $10.8m (£5.3m)
20) Arthur And The Invisibles (Momentum) $10.6m (£5.2m)

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