Revenue from 3D movies in the U.S. doubled in the second quarter this year to $1.3 billion compared to $745 million in the same period last year, according to the National Association of Theater Owners.
That increase along with premiums on IMAX tickets has nearly completely compensated for the 3% decline in tickets purcased this year since it has raised the overall average ticket price by .42-cents to $8.38 from $7.96 a year ago. The cost of an IMAX 3D movie is usually at least $5 more than a 2D movie in a traditional theater, with IMAX and 3D each adding an extra $2 – $3 more per ticket.
Nine of the top 10 most successful movies this year so far were in 3D and seven of them were released in the second quarter: “Iron Man 3,” “Man of Steel” “Despicable Me 2,” “Monsters University,” “Star Trek: INto Darkness,” “World War Z,” and “The Great Gatsby.”
Two others came out in March: “Oz: The Great and Powerful” and “The Croods.”
The only non-3D movie in the top 10 is #5 “Fast and Furious 6.”
— By Scott Hettrick