'Prisoner' helps boost UK film production spending

  January 12, 2004 at 9:37 PM ET
  Geri     iharrypotter.net (via BBC News)
 

The upcoming Harry Potter movie, The Prisoner of Azkaban, helped boost UK film production spending to an all-time high last year. Thanks to Harry Potter and the historic epic Troy starring Brad Pitt, blockbusters steered the industry towards a record £1.17bn spend, said the UK Film Council. Movies made entirely in the UK were up by a fifth, while investment from overseas film-makers increased by 85%. The study covers entirely home-made UK films, as well as films originating overseas but filmed mainly in Britain.

Other movies behind the record figures include the Bridget Jones follow-up film The Edge Of Reason, the children's animation The Magic Roundabout Movie and sci-fi love story Code 46.