Hobbits swept seized the no. 1 and no. 2 positions on the list of year-end films at the B.O.
"Lord of the Rings" sweep accounted for 11% of all cinema attendance, according to statistics published by the Swedish Film Institute.
Launched by Svensk Filmindustri in 2001, "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" sold 1.1 million tickets in 2002, to total 1.9 million. And during less than a month's release (from Dec. 18), its sequel, "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers," rang up 912,000 admissions.
After a strong year-end, with attendance soaring by 10% in December, the Swedish cinemas concluded its fifth consecutive year of box office increases by reaching 18.3 million admissions -- up 1% -- while box office revenue added 4% to last year's result, totaling $158 million.
Produced by Filmlance International and Sonet Film, Kjell Sundvall's "The Guy in the Grave Next Door" -- which seated 835,507 in theaters -- as the only local production among the top 10, which were otherwise U.S. product. Local market share was reduced from 24% to 17%.
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