Multi Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire and Disney hit Bolt helped swell cinema audiences in the first quarter of this year to 41,376,613 - a 7.5% increase on the same period last year.

The films proved so popular that audience volumes came within sight of levels not seen since the first quarter of 2003 when 41.7m people visited the cinema, according to latest figures from the Cinema Advertising Association.

Bolt also proved interest in 3D remains undimmed, with the film's opening weekend taking two and a half times more at the box office on 3D screens as it did on 2D ones.

February's figures are traditionally boosted by the half-term break. But this year saw audience numbers during that month rise by 16.4% to 14,967,293 - the best-performing February since 2003 when Catch Me If You Can and Eight Mile were on screens.

The awards season proved a particular catalyst to attracting people to see Slumdog, directed by Danny Boyle and featuring young British actor Dev Patel. The weekend after the film's 9 January release, ticket sales shot up by 44% after the film was nominated for four Golden Globes and 11 Baftas. Following its eight Oscar haul admissions rose sharply again and the film has taken £31.5m to date .

Other films to have attracted strong audience figures during the first three months of 2009 included Hotel for Dogs, Marley & Me and He's Just Not That Into You.

A CAA spokesperson said: 'This is a spectacular result for the cinema industry in the UK and shows that a trip to the cinema remains an essential night out for many. We are looking forward to a massive schedule of summer blockbusters including the latest X-Men film - Wolverine, Angels & Demons and Terminator.'