Booming overseas returns and record domestic box-office grosses made 1993 one of Hollywood’s best years.
Some moviegoers groused about high ticket prices, but megahits like “Jurassic Park” and “The Fugitive” drew them into the theaters anyway.
Year-end ticket receipts from North American theaters will break the 1989 mark of $5.03 billion, industry analysts predicted Monday. The final year-end figure, tallied by the Motion Picture Association of America, won’t be announced until March.
But the largest gains came on foreign soil, where returns exceeded domestic grosses 52 percent to 48 percent.
“The big story of 1993 was the continuing strength of U.S. product outside the United States,” said Christopher Dixon, a PaineWebber analyst specializing in entertainment companies.
In the United States, the record annual gross was led by “Jurassic Park,” “The Fugitive,” “The Firm,” “Sleepless in Seattle,” “Indecent Proposal” and “In the Line of Fire.”
“There were really a lot of good movies-and good movies for all audiences,” said Tom Pollock, chairman of the MCA Motion Picture Group, which made “Jurassic Park.” “We had one of the best years in the company’s history.”
An estimated 1.02 billion tickets were sold, an increase of 6 percent from the 964.2 million admissions sold in 1992. It could be the highest admissions figure since 1990, when 1.06 billion admissions were sold.
At the same time, ticket prices edged up again. Averaging $5.10, tickets are up almost $1 from 1988.
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At the Universal City Cinemas, the nation’s busiest movie theater, patrons said Monday that value was becoming an issue.
“If the prices go any higher, then I’m not coming back,” said Robert Zepeda, who bought a ticket for “Ghost in the Machine.” “Action movies are better to watch with a lot of people than at home. I usually pay $7.50, and yeah, it’s worth it-sometimes.”
William Kartozian, president of the National Association of Theater Owners, said moviegoing was still one of the best out-of-home entertainment deals. He noted many theaters offer discount matinees or reduced admissions for second-run films.
“I think it’s a terrific value, especially if you compare it with a rock concert, a professional stage play or an athletic event,” Kartozian said.
Buck Buchanan, a frequent film patron, disagreed.
“I’ll tell you, $7.50 is just too much money to see a movie. I can rent two laser discs for $1-it’s two-for-one day on Monday, you know. And I don’t have to pay $4.50 for a bucket of popcorn.”
The top 10 grossing movies of 1993, as tallied by Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.:
1.”Jurassic Park,” Universal, $339.5 million.
2.”The Fugitive,” Warner Bros., $179.3 million.
3.”The Firm,” Paramount, $158.3 million.
4.”Sleepless in Seattle,” TriStar, $126.6 million.
5.”Mrs. Doubtfire,” 20th Century Fox, $122.5 million.
6.”Indecent Proposal,” Paramount, $105.5 million.
7.”In the Line of Fire,” Columbia, $102.2 million.
8.”Cliffhanger,” TriStar, $84 million.
9.”Free Willy,” Warner Bros., $77.7 million.
10.”Groundhog Day,” Columbia, $70.8 million.