A look at how the studios did business-wise in 2008 — better than most, as it turns out. “Ticket sales at North American movie theaters totaled US$9.6 billion, a decrease of less than 1 percent over the previous year, according to Media by Numbers, a box office tracking company. Although attendance declined 5 percent, to about 1.3 billion, the industry was able to buttress revenue with higher ticket prices and premium 3-D offerings.”

That last bit about premium prices is particularly interesting: “In 2008, the studios discovered that audiences would pay ticket prices of up to US$25 to see a movie in 3-D (‘Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour’). Screenings of ‘The Dark Knight’ and ‘Kung Fu Panda’ at Imax theaters, also carrying premium prices, did blockbuster business.”

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