BATMAN - BRITISH FILMS STORMED 2008 BOX OFFICE

BRITISH FILMS STORMED 2008 BOX OFFICE

BATMAN and JAMES BOND helped make 2008 a bumper year for U.K. movies - British films raked in more than $3.75 billion (£2.5 billion) at the global box office last year.
The Dark Knight, starring Christian Bale and the late Heath Ledger, was the top earner, with just over $1 billion (£666 million) in sales and Quantum Of Solace took $576 million (£384 million) worldwide.
Abba movie musical Mamma Mia!, featuring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan, also proved a box office smash, taking $602 million (£401 million) since its release in July (08).
Other Brit films in the top 10 earners of 2008 include fantasy film The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian which took $419 million (£279 million) and The Other Boleyn Girl, starring Natalie Portman, which garnered $75 million (£50 million).
John Woodward of the U.K. Film Council says, "That's a phenomenal achievement and a measure of film's contribution to the wider economy."
Movies are classified as British if they meet criteria on whether the stars, directors, producers and funding come from the U.K.