Sequels and spinoffs to “Finding Nemo,” “Captain America,” and “Star Wars” powered the 2016 U.S. box office to a new record.

    Ticket sales have crossed the US$11 billion mark for the second consecutive year, according to ComScore. The data analysis company projects that the stateside* box office will hit US$11.3 billion this year, passing 2015’s record-setting US$11.1 billion. Through Monday, stateside revenues were up more than 2 percent, and this week is expected to be a busy one for moviegoing. Many Americans are taking the seven days between Christmas and New Year off for vacation.

    It’s a high-water mark that few thought would be eclipsed in 2016. There were fewer blockbusters* like “Jurassic World” and “Avengers: Age of Ultron” this year. Moreover, many analysts felt that ticket sales would suffer from the absence of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” which injected more than US$900 million into the stateside box office.

    Even without hits on that scale, 2016 delivered with many major successes. “Rogue One” has dominated the Christmas box office. “Deadpool,” an R-rated comic book adaptation, was a surprise breakout last February, racking up US$363.1 million. And though trade papers fretted about “sequelitis,” a phantom* virus that had audiences rejecting franchises, follow-ups such as “Captain America: Civil War” and “Finding Dory” delivered at the multiplexes*.

    The box office also got a hand from superhero films such as “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” and animated fare such as “The Secret Life of Pets” and “Moana.” (SD-Agencies)