Rain and US blockbusters in 3D behind strong summer in Norway

by Jorn Rossing Jensen

21/08/2012 - With the Norwegian summer weather conspicuous by its absence, cinemas delivered the second best result for June-July in the past ten years, selling 1.2 tickets – but mainly to US blockbusters, which took over the List of Top Ten films, half of them in 3D.

After the national digital roll-out – the first in the world, which was completed last year – small theatres in the countryside no longer close during the holiday due to lack of new films. "This summer there were 24 more cinemas open than before digitisation," explained head of communications Birgitte Langballe, of Norwegian cinema association Film & Kino.

The result did not improve the situation for local fare, which was reduced by 59.3% compared to last year, when during the first half of 2011 sold 2.9 million tickets, controlling 24.5% of the market. No new Norwegian productions were premiered between June-August, but 12 will be launched during the upcoming months, to commence with Norwegian directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg's action-adventure, Kon-Tiki [trailer] (pictured), Norway’s so-far most expensive feature.

Norway’s summer list of Top Ten films: 1. Ice Age 4: Continental Drift 3D (US), 611,382 admissions. 2. The Dark Knight Rises (US), 276,762 adms. 3. The Amazing Spider-Man 3D (US), 172,075 adms. 4. Prometheus 3D (US), 150,808 adms. 5. Snow White and the Huntsman (US), 133,091 adms. 6. Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted 3D (US) 102,287. 7. LOL (US), 58,949 adms. 8. Magic Mike (US), 55,351 adms. 9. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter 3D (US), 44,381 adms. 10. Jump Street (US), 39,327 adms.