Yahoo reports that US boxoffice receipts year to date are nearly tied with the same period last year. However, fewer movies have passed the ?200m mark.

"By this point in the calendar last year, three films, including Phantom Menace, had grossed more than $200 million each."

The industry can no longer rely on the presence of a single blockbuster performing at level that Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace did in 1999, with its stellar $400 million-plus gross for 20th Century Fox. Blockbusters across the board will have to perform better if they are to equal or out perform 1999's record breaking year. Read more about the report here.