Shrek 2 top of the class

The biggest grossing animated film of all time, Shrek 2, was the best performing movie of the year in UK cinemas during the first half of 2004.

17:02 26 November 2004

The biggest grossing animated film of all time, Shrek 2, was the best performing movie of the year in UK cinemas during the first half of 2004.

In a year saturated by big money, big action blockbusters, many of them sequels, the big green ogre and his motormouthed sidekick Donkey swept the board.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was left dangling in second, closely followed by the year's second best sequel to the money spinning original, Spider-Man 2.

The performance of a host of blockbusting efforts, including The Day After Tomorrow and Troy, helped to increase UK ticket sales by 11 per cent, with total takings hitting a whopping 576.34 million.

"Cinema-going remains one of the most popular forms of entertainment in this country," said the UK Film Council's chief executive officer, John Woodward.

"British films have put in a strong performance at the UK box office so far this year with two UK films - Harry Potter: The Prisoner of Azkaban and Troy in the top five of the biggest earners at the box office."