Film industry slump hurting local theaters

Robert Carter eagerly awaited this month's release of "Fantastic Four," a movie about a family of superheroes who battle a wicked character named Dr. Doom.

"I've been reading the (Fantastic Four) comic books since I was 8," he said.

Mr. Carter chose the Muvico Egyptian 24 theater in Hanover to see the movie on the big screen.

Customers like him are helping Muvico buck a trend in which the movie business has seen ticket sales plummet for 19 straight weekends compared to last year's results, according to Exhibitor Relations, a box office tracking firm in Los Angeles.

"It's been a very good summer," said Jim Lee,...