The Guard holds own against big studio films

IT WAS the year that saw comedy-thriller The Guard become the most successful independent Irish film in our box office history.

However, cinema receipts for the top 10 movies of 2011 lag almost €6 million behind the take for 2010 in Irish cinemas.

Since the start of the year the top 10 films at the Irish box office have pulled in €5.6m less than their biggest counterparts in 2010.