It was going to be a big year even before Bond hit the screens.Year-to-date figures put UK admissions at 138 million to October 31, up0.1% on the same period in 2007, with box-office gross up 8.7% to$1.2bn (£821m).

These figures only include the first day of Quantum Of Solace,which opened on October 31, and estimates put the UK on track tosurpass 2007's year-end total of £904.9m.

With the exception of WarnerBros' The Dark Knight (which also has UK elements of its own), UK-US collaborations dominated the UK chart this year. Mamma Mia! is at the top with $100.4m (£68.1m), while Quantum Of Solace's $70.3m (£47.6m) is on track to surpass The Dark Knight's $71.6m (£48.6m) gross.

The most successful independent UK film of the year is Entertainment's St Trinian's, which grossed $14.5m after opening in December 2007. Pathe's period drama The Duchess, starring Keira Knightley, grossed $10.3m (£7m) and is the most successful UK indie opener of 2008.