FILE - This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Sandra Bullock in a scene from the film, "Gravity." Hollywood is expected to have a banner year as box office totals are projected to peak at just under $11 billion, bringing in more multiplex revenue in 2013 than ever before. (AP Photo/Warner Bros. Pictures, File)
December 27, 2013 - 12:52 PM
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Despite a string of summertime flops, Hollywood is expected to have a banner year at the domestic box office, coming in just shy of $11 billion, the largest annual take ever. But because of higher ticket prices, actual attendance at North American theatres remained flat after a decade of decline.
With the current domestic box-office tally nearly 1 per cent ahead of last year at this time, 2013 could surpass 2012's overall haul of $10.8 billion by more than $100 million, according to box-office tracker Rentrak.
High-profile flops such as "The Lone Ranger," ''After Earth," ''R.I.P.D." and "Turbo" were offset by mega-hits like "Fast & Furious 6" and "Iron Man 3," which consistently filled theatres last summer.
A strong fall and holiday slate is also boosting the year's box-office total.
News from © The Associated Press, 2013