Hollywood film franchise fatigue drives down global ticket sales

Cinemagoers spent almost $19bn in first six months of the year, down from $20.2bn in 2018

The global box office has so far failed to sizzle this summer, with ticket sales down 6% in the first half of 2019 as misfiring Hollywood sequels give cinemagoers a case of franchise fatigue.

Film fans spent almost $19bn (15bn) on going to the cinema in the first six months of the year, compared with the $20.2bn spent in the same period last year.