going to the movies

According to the latest issue of BRW, the most popular cultural activity is going to the movies with two out of every three Australians attending the cinema at least once a year. The spend at local cinemas? $1.3 billion in 2010, the highest spend yet. (We spent a bit of $2 bilion on books.)

I had a quick look at the ABS figures and the latest I could find were 2009, when 65% of Australians went to the movies, of that 65% a little over half went to the cinema five or more times. That's pretty enthusiastic movie going.

Interestingly (for a YA/childrens publisher) 95% of 15 to 17 year olds went to the cinema. Wow. I wish that many had read a book.