Tom Cruise film War of the Worlds has performed well in Europe

The UK is among the countries predicted to show the strongest growth in cinema admissions in the next five years.

However, cinemas anticipate a drop in attendance in the first half of 2005, though not as dramatic as sluggish box office figures at first suggested.

The number of digital screens also rose in 2003, says a Screen Digest report.

The total number of high-end screens capable of showing feature films increased by 83% in Western Europe in 2004, despite overall growth in cinema screens slowing to just 1.5%.

"Increased innovation through technology, including digital screening capabilities which allow for the more flexible distribution of films, will be a major focus for the industry over the next five years," said Charlotte Jones, author of the report.

Price rise

Ireland, Greece and Austria are expected to join the UK as the four countries with the greatest growth in cinema admissions over the next five years.

Spain is likely to join the UK, France and Germany as a $1bn box office market by 2009.

More than half all cinemas in Western Europe are now housed in multiplexes, with continued growth anticipated in Italy, Greece and Portugal.