Film B.O. down under stays in growth mode

By DON GROVES

SYDNEY, Australia -- The Australian B.O. maintained a six-year upward spiral in 1993 as gross revenues jumped by 15% to $ A369 million ($ 250 million).

Admissions last year totaled 52.7 million, a healthy 16% rise over the previous year's 45.5 million.

The 1993 B.O. tally is double the 1987 score.

Ian Sands, Motion Picture Distributors Assn. of Australia deputy chairman, attributed the record results to the continued cinema building program, top quality product and aggressive marketing and promo campaigns by distribs and exhibs.

The top-10 titles last year were "Jurassic Park," which grossed $ A31.7 million; "The Bodyguard,"$ A18.2 million; "Aladdin,"$ A17.6 million; "Sister Act ,"$ A13.6 million; "The Fugitive,"$ A11.7 million; "Cliffhanger,"$ A10.4 million; "Sleepless in Seattle,"$ A10.4 million; "Indecent Proposal,"$ A10.3 million; "The Piano,"$ A9.2 million; and "The Firm,"$ A8.6 million.

Warner Bros. was the top distrib with a 23.1% share, followed by United Intl. Pictures with 21%, Buena Vista Intl. 17.8%, Columbia TriStar 15.9%, 20th Century Fox 8.1% and Roadshow 7.6%.

Sands reported the first two weeks of 1994 set industry records, grossing $ A 13.8 million and $ A13.7 million, fueled by "Mrs. Doubtfire,""Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit" and "Free Willy."