LOS ANGELES (REUTERS) - Hollywood had a strong year in 2012, both internationally and domestically, as global box office ticket sales rose 6 per cent to $34.7 billion (S$43.4 billion) from 2011's total.

The foreign box office continued to be a strong driver for a second year in a row, with international ticket sales hitting US$23.9 billion, up 6.7 per cent from US$22.4 billion in 2011, according to the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).

The 2012 increase in box office receipts was an improvement from the 3 per cent gain in global sales in 2011, which had been hindered by a downturn at the North American box office, according to MPAA's annual Theatrical Market Statistics report.

In 2012, the United States (US)/Canada box office commanded US$10.8 billion, up 6 per cent from the US$10.2 billion recorded for 2011, which was a 4 per cent decline from 2010.

Topping off 2012's biggest selling films in the North American markets were Walt Disney's The Avengers, which pulled in US$623.4 million at the domestic box office, followed by Warner Bros The Dark Knight Rises, which raked in US$448.1 million.