Narnia and King Kong among top draws in 2005

Two New Zealand films have been ranked among the top 10 wordwide in terms of 2005 box office revenue.

In its annual report on world film market trends released this week Cannes European Cinema ranked The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe seventh and King Kong eighth.

Narnia made US$428 ($695) million and King Kong US$388 ($630) million, despite being released only in December.

The two movies were filmed on location and in studios in New Zealand by directors, Andrew Adamson for Narnia and Peter Jackson for King Kong.

The top-ranked film, Star Wars III: The Revenge of the Sith made US$848 million.

Film New Zealand hailed the rankings as an achievement for the local industry.

"This achievement for New Zealand's screen production industry illustrates the range of advantages New Zealand offers as a film-making centre -- from diverse locations, highly skilled crews and effects capability and the Large Budget Screen Production grant as an additional critical incentive," Film New Zealand chief executive Judith McCann said.

* Top 10 films with revenues:

1. Star Wars III: the Revenge of the Sith US$848 million

2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire US$808 million

3. War of the Worlds US$591 million

4. Madagascar US$533 million

5. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory US$472 million

6. Mr and Mrs Smith US$468 million

7. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe US$428

8. King Kong US$388

9. Batman Begins US$371 million

10.Hitch US$367 million

- NZPA