The appeal of 3-D films like Avatar helped boost movie ticket sales to a record 29.9 billion dollars worldwide in 2009.

The jump, from 27.8 billion a year earlier, was driven by a rise in ticket prices and the first increase in attendance in the US and Canada in two years, the Motion Picture Association of America said.

On top of that, theatres worldwide benefited from the popularity of 3-D movies, as they brought in more filmgoers, who buy tickets that cost more than regular screenings.

There were 20 movies released in 3-D last year, including James Cameron's blockbuster Avatar and animated Up.

That's an increase from eight in 2008.

Although 3-D movies represented less than four per cent of the 558 films released all year, they accounted for 1.14 billion dollars, or 11 per cent of the 10.6 billion total box office haul in the US and Canada.

The bulk of the 1 billion increase in North American ticket sales is attributable to the 3-D movies; box office sales for 2-D movies increased by only about 70 million dollars over 2008.