MUMBAI: The growth of film markets in Asia has helped lift total worldwide box-office revenues to $31.8 billion in 2010, a 13 per cent increase on that recorded 2009, according to a report from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).

Rising occupancy in China, where the box-office soared by 40 per cent, has mainly caused the box-office to soar. 

On the other hand, North American box-office revenues were flat at $10.6bn that accounts to about a third of the global total. It is noted that fewer people in North America are going to cinemas, with admissions falling 5 per cent in 2010 to 1.3bn. Revenues have been sustained by higher ticket prices, with cinema chains able to charge a premium for 3D movies.

It is being said that without the revenues from 3D films that doubled there in 2010 to $2.2bn, China‘s share would have fallen. There were 25 3D films released in 2010, up from 20 released last year.

This year, the number is likely to increase, with studios hoping to offset declining admissions in North America with movies that cost more to watch.