Where in the world are stereo 3D films screened the most? And what’s the next big market for those films?

Recent releases like Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, though likely breaking box office records as a result of the 3D surcharges attached to regular ticket prices, continue to drive the demand for 3D content here and abroad. Now that the summer 3D blockbuster season is in full swing, it’s worth a look at which regions continue to drive both ticket sales and theater upgrades. Quantel, makers of the Pablo and iQ post-production systems and the companion Stereo3D software toolset, has created a timely infographic, below, that neatly sums up the latest stats.

Quantel drew on information gathered by Creatives at Work and several other international industry organizations to highlight which countries have the biggest appetites for 3D but also where theater owners and content creators should be looking next for expansive growth. When you read how Transformers and Pirates have attracted record European audiences, you’ll see another compelling reason why here: stereoscopic screens in EU countries still outpace those in the U.S.

For links to the Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan and the other groups Quantel mined for its data, visit Quantel’s blog here: http://blog.quantel.eu/2011/07/infographic-the-3d-breakthrough/