Movie-going declines in some Eurozone countries

Sir Ridley Scott's Prometheus is currently top at the UK box office

Cinema attendances are falling in some of the hardest-hit Eurozone countries, according to industry journal <link> <caption>Variety</caption> <url href="http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118055601?refcatid=13&printerfriendly=true" platform="highweb"/> </link> .

Having declined by 10% in 2011, Italy's box office returns were down 12% between January and June this year to $372 million (£237.5m).

Spain tells a similar story. Its takings are also 12% down so far this year, having dropped by 2.7% in 2011.

"Two years of decline is not healthy," said David Hancock, senior film analyst at IHS Screen Digest.

"In fact, it does not happen very often in European or even worldwide box offices."

Other countries to suffer a double dip include Portugal, which dropped by 11% in the first half of this year following a 3% fall in 2011.

Ireland is down by approximately 7% this year, following consecutive declines in 2010 and 2011.

Yet according to media analyst Rentrak it is not all bad news. Europe's top film markets - the UK, France and Germany - are said to be holding up well.

There are hopes too that summer blockbusters like Sir Ridley Scott's Prometheus - currently top at the UK box office - will boost takings.

Analysts attribute falls in cinema attendance to rising unemployment in the under-25s.