Batman film brings sales boost.

FANS of the latest Batman instalment and Mamma Mia have helped a UK cinema group report better than expected third-quarter sales.

Releases such as The Dark Knight, starring the late Heath Ledger (left), and the adapted stage musical brought movie fans flocking to the silver screen, helping the Cine world Group report a rise in sales of 2.2 per cent for the 43 weeks to October.

Box office revenues at the group - which has a venue at Junction One Retail and Leisure in Rugby - rose 3.9 per cent while retail sales were up 0.1 per cent.

Steve Wiener, chief executive of Cine world Group, said: "The group is pleased to report healthy trading in the 43 weeks to October 23, 2008. During the second half the outstanding films have been the July releases of The Dark Knight and Mamma Mia.

"These two films, together with other notable performances from Hancock and Wall-E, have contributed to better than expected trading for Q3 which will assist in offsetting both the impact on Q4 from the rescheduling of Harry Potter to summer 2009, and certain cost increases relating to utilities and interest rates in the second half of the year."