2002 is expected to continue the upward trend for the cinema exhibition sector. According to a new report from Informa Media, global box office will reach a record of nearly $20 billion. The extremely strong release slate in 2001 and 2002 has much to do with this success. Global box office revenues are forecast to grow to nearly $24 billion by 2010 - or double the 1995 total. Over the same period, the global screen count will stay virtually the same - at 149,000 - as several countries, especially China, shed traditional theatres. Admissions growth will only be 9% for the 2002-2010 period. The U.S. will take 44% of global box office in 2002, and this share will fall only slightly to 41% by 2010. The top 10 countries account for 83% of global box office in 2002, with this proportion likely to drop only a little by 2010. Asia Pacific dominates the admissions figures, but low average ticket prices mean that its influence on gross box office revenues fell in the late 1990s. Asia Pacific is now expected to retain its share, though North America will lose some of its dominance. Hong Kong is the most lucrative market per screen, with Japan, South Korea and Singapore following. These top earners are ideal markets for multiplex expansion. The global average revenue per screen is $133,000 in 2002, with the U.S. at $239,000.