Cinema-goers plot escape with fantastic figures

IRISH people’s penchant for escapism has been borne out by the latest box office figures, which showed cartoon and fantasy flicks were the most watched in cinemas last year.

The announcement last week that the Harry Potter franchise intends to split the last book into two films has been given credence by the 2007 box office figures from the Film Distributors Association (FDA) which showed Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix grossed €62.7 million in 2007, making it the year’s biggest film.

Not far behind was another fantasy production Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End which took in €51million.