Hammer’s chilling ghost story THE WOMAN IN BLACK exceeded box office expectations to open in the no.2 spot in its three day opening weekend (Fri-Sun) in the US, grossing just over $21m.

This is more than Paranormal Activity’s opening weekend which grossed $19,617,650 in 2009 and The Grudge 2 which grossed $20,825,300 in 2006.

Hammer’s adaptation of Susan Hill’s classic novel, starring Daniel Radcliffe, opened on almost  2855 screens with a per screen average of $7,356.

This weekend’s three day gross makes THE WOMAN IN BLACK the highest opening ever for a Hammer film in the US.

THE WOMAN IN BLACK, starring Daniel Radcliffe, is the iconic production company’s first ever feature ghost story. It is directed by James Watkins and adapted by Jane Goldman from the book by Susan Hill.

The film is a Hammer, Alliance Films, The UK Film Council presentation, in association with Cross Creek Pictures. A Talisman production in association with Exclusive Media. Producers are Richard Jackson, Simon Oakes and Brian Oliver. Executive Producers are Guy East, Nigel Sinclair, Tobin Armbrust, Marc Schipper, Neil Dunn, Xavier Marchand, Roy Lee and Tyler Thompson.

Commenting on the success of THE WOMAN IN BLACK, Simon Oakes, President & CEO of Hammer and Vice Chairman of Exclusive Media said: “We are delighted that The Woman in Black has performed so well. The fact that a gothic horror has attracted such a large audience on opening weekend shows the demand for elevated and intelligent genre films which Hammer aims to produce.”

Nigel Sinclair, CEO of Exclusive Media added: “This follows on a strong performance for Ides of March and reflects our commitment to great artists and great movies; I congratulate our partners CBS Alliance and of course Cross Creek pictures.”

Tobin Armbrust, President of Worldwide Production & Acquisitions of Exclusive Media, which is Hammer’s parent company, added: “We are thrilled to share in the success of The Woman in Black with our close family, Daniel Radcliffe, Jane Goldman, James Watkins and the entire cast and crew who all worked incredibly hard on this great project. Hammer is one of our key production brands and to see it embraced in the US is a great show of support for its production philosophy.”

THE WOMAN IN BLACK director James Watkins said: ‘I’m thrilled that a British ghost story, made with a British cast, crew and investment, is playing so well with American audiences.’

THE WOMAN IN BLACK will open in the UK on February 10.

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Summit Entertainment, a LIONSGATE® company, announced today that the fourth installment in the blockbuster TWILIGHT SAGA franchise – THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN – PART 1 has grossed an estimated $701.3 million in global box office receipts since the film’s release on November 18, 2011.  THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN – PART 1 is on its way to becoming the highest grossing film in the series to date looking to surpass the worldwide box office gross of THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON which tallied $709.8 million.  The two other two films in the franchise THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE and TWILIGHT have each grossed $698.5 million and $390.4 respectively and the franchise continues to break records.  Upcoming releases of THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN – PART 1 internationally include Japan and China.

Not only has the TWILIGHT SAGA’s global fan base supported the films during their theatrical release, but audiences worldwide have continued to support this cultural phenomenon both on and off the screen. THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN – PART 1 will be available on Blu-ray, DVD, and VOD on February 11, 2012.

Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group Co-Chairmen Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger stated: “The milestone is important on several fronts and illustrates the vitality of the franchise on a global scale even after four films.  Stephenie Meyer’s story and characters were brought to the screen this time via the talented hands of Bill Condon along with the cast and crew that has been with the film franchise since its inception.  We are very proud of the success the franchise has experienced and anticipate the saga’s conclusion this November.”

The next chapter in THE TWILIGHT SAGA, THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN – PART 2 will arrive in theatres on November 16, 2012. Academy Award® winner Bill Condon directed both the first and second part of the two-part finale starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner. The project, based on the fourth novel in author Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series, was written by Melissa Rosenberg with Wyck Godfrey, Karen Rosenfelt and Stephenie Meyer producing.

About THE TWILIGHT SAGA film series

THE TWILIGHT SAGA film series stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson and tells the story of 17-year-old Bella Swan who moves to the small town of Forks, Washington to live with her father, and becomes drawn to Edward Cullen, a pale, mysterious classmate who seems determined to push her away. But neither can deny the attraction that pulls them together…even when Edward confides that he and his family are vampires.  The action-packed, modern day vampire love story TWILIGHT, the first film in the series, was released in theatres on November 21, 2008 to a blockbuster reception. The second installment of the film franchise, THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON was released November 20, 2009 and the third installment, THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE was released June 30, 2010.

About Summit Entertainment

Summit Entertainment, a LIONSGATE® company, is a worldwide theatrical motion picture development, financing, production and distribution studio.  The company handles all aspects of marketing and distribution for both its own internally developed motion pictures as well as acquired pictures.  Summit also represents international sales for both its own slate and third party product.

About Lionsgate

Lionsgate is a leading global entertainment company with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, family entertainment, digital distribution, new channel platforms and international distribution and sales. The Company has built a strong television presence in production of prime time cable and broadcast network series, distribution and syndication of programming and an array of channel assets.  Lionsgate currently has 15 shows on more than 10 networks spanning its prime time production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as the multiple Emmy Award-winning “Mad Men”, “Weeds” and “Nurse Jackie” along with the comedy “Blue Mountain State,” the Golden Globe-winning drama “Boss” and the syndication successes “Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne”, its spinoff “Meet The Browns”, “The Wendy Williams Show” and “Are We There Yet?”.

Its feature film business has been fueled by such recent successes as THE LINCOLN LAWYER, TYLER PERRY’S MADEA’S BIG HAPPY FAMILY, THE EXPENDABLES, MARGIN CALL, THE LAST EXORCISM and the critically-acclaimed PRECIOUS, which won two Academy Awards®. With the January 2012 acquisition of Summit Entertainment, the Company now has the two leading young adult franchises – the blockbuster TWILIGHT SAGA, which has grossed more than $2.5 billion at the worldwide box office, and the HUNGER GAMES franchise, whose first film will be released on March 23.  Recent Summit hits include RED, LETTERS TO JULIET, KNOWING, the STEP UP franchise and the Academy Award winning Best Picture THE HURT LOCKER.

Lionsgate’s home entertainment business is an industry leader in box office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rate. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 13,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company’s core businesses. The Lionsgate and Summit brands remain synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.

Year’s Highlights Included Studio’s First Billion Dollar Release,
Successful Re-launch of Mission Impossible Franchise,
the Coen Bros. Biggest Release Ever & Paramount’s First Original CGI Animated Film

Paramount Pictures announced today it ended 2011 in the No. 1 position among all studios, having achieved the highest total combined gross of any studio for the year, earning a record $5.17 billion worldwide. The studio, which released a total of 16 new releases domestically this year, placed first in the North American market share with $1.96 billion, while also amassing record grosses at the international box office with $3.21 billion.

“This achievement reflects the combined efforts of our entire team across the globe and the careful process by which we select the projects and partners we believe in,” said Paramount Pictures Chairman & CEO Brad Grey. “We produce pictures that aspire to entertain audiences around the world, while at the same time we have sought to find innovative ways to reach movie-goers in this changing entertainment environment.

“This year our studio reached some key milestones, including the release of three vibrant Paramount franchise pictures and our first original CGI animated film. Our studio had its first ever $1 billion worldwide grossing film in Michael Bay’s hit ‘Transformers: Dark of the Moon’; we successfully re-launched our ‘Mission Impossible’ franchise with Tom Cruise, JJ Abrams and Brad Bird; our latest installment in the ‘Paranormal Activity’ franchise had another $100 million dollar success; our first original animated film ‘Rango,‘ from director Gore Verbinski, earned rave reviews and more than $100 million at the domestic box office; and we released global phenomenon ‘Super 8,’ directed by JJ Abrams, who will now direct the newest ‘Star Trek’ for 2013. We also benefited from our distribution partnerships with DreamWorks Animation and Marvel and I want to thank them both.

“Film President Adam Goodman and his team in production and development, and Vice Chairman Rob Moore and his team in marketing and distribution, did outstanding work and truly delivered. “As we prepare to celebrate Paramount’s 100th year in 2012, we are all grateful to be part of this wonderful institution as it continues to prosper,” added Grey.

In 2012, Paramount’s release slate highlights include “World War Z,” a zombie thriller starring Brad Pitt and directed by Marc Forster, “G.I. Joe: Retaliation,” the next installment in the global franchise starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Channing Tatum, a new chapter in the “Paranormal Activity” franchise, and “The Dictator,” starring Sacha Baron Cohen and directed by Larry Charles, the team behind “Borat.”

The 2011 box office results seen from the studio were built on a wide reaching range of titles, including the following (with current domestic grosses): “True Grit” ($85 mil this year, $171.2 million total), Ivan Reitman’s “No Strings Attached” ($70.7 mil), Jon Chu’s “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never” ($73 mil), Gore Verbinski’s “Rango” ($123.5 mil), Marvel Studio’s “Thor” ($181 mil), DreamWorks Animation’s “Kung Fu Panda 2″ ($165.2 mil), JJ Abrams “Super 8″ ($127 mil), Michael Bay’s “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” ($352.4 mil), Marvel Studio’s “Captain America: The First Avenger” ($176.7 mil), Craig Brewer’s “Footloose” ($51.7 mil), the third installment in the hit “Paranormal Activity” franchise ($104 mil), DreamWorks Animation’s “Puss In Boots” ($145.8 mil), Sundance prize-winner “Like Crazy” ($3.4 mil), Martin Scorsese and GK Films’ “Hugo” ($50.2 mil), Jason Reitman’s “Young Adult” ($12.8 mil), Brad Bird’s “Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol” ($142.8 mil) and Steven Spielberg’s “Tintin” ($51.4 mil).

Relativity Media’s visually-stunning epic 3D adventure Immortals exceeded both internal and external industry estimates leading the company to its highest box office opener as an independent distributor, taking in an estimated $32.3mm in 3,112 locations in North America and $38mm internationally from opening in 35 countries, it was announced today by Kyle Davies, Relativity’s President of Worldwide Distribution. Opening on 11-11-11, the film impressively took the # 1 spot in America and became the highest R-Rated action film this year and the third highest-grossing R-rated film debut in 2011 behind The Hangover 2 ($85mm) and Paranormal Activity 3 ($52mm). Directed by Tarsem Singh, and from the producers of 300 Mark Canton, Gianni Nunnari and Relativity’s Ryan Kavanaugh, Immortals is completely original and not based on a comic book,novel or a previous film.

Relativity mounted a robust marketing and publicity campaign toward a broad audience, beginning by targeting the elusive under 35 male demographic, and leveraging innovative partnerships with such companies as Clear Channel Radio, MTV, Best Buy, Carl’s Jr.®, Spotify, Richard Petty Motor Sports and Virgin Mobile to reach beyond the targeted under 35 male demographic. Exit polls indicate that Immortals reached thatspecific group and beyond, as 75% of its audience was under 35 (with 60% ofthat audience consisting of males and 40% comprising of females) and 25% was 35 and over. Exit polls also indicated very strong response in both rating and recommendation scores from the younger demographic (males and females under 25). 70% of locations played the film in 3D. 66% of the gross was on 3D screens with 34% on 2D.

Relativity owns worldwide rights to Immortals with Lionsgate handling foreign sales. Immortals opened day and date with the U.S. in over 35 international territories including: UK/Universal, Germany/Austria/Constantin, Italy/RAI/01 Distribution, Japan/Universal, South Korea/Next Entertainment World, Turkey/Aqua Pinema, Taiwan/Studio Solutions Group/Catchplay, Netherlands/A-Film, Greece/Village Films, South Africa/Nu Metro, UAE/Gulf Films, and CIS & Eastern Europe/Paradise/MGN. Immortals is the first Relativity title released in China through Sky Land, its joint venture with IDG and Saif Partners. The current estimated weekend box office is approximately a solid $38mm+ with a number of territories still to report. The rest of the world will open by the Christmas holiday including France/Metropolitan, Belgium/A-Film/Belga, Australia/New Zealand/Universal, Denmark & Norway/Nordisk, Portugal/Prisvideo, Brazil/Imagem, Mexico/Gussi, Spain/Universal, among others.

In Relativity’s first year as an independent distributor, Immortals marks the studio’s second over-performing film to reach the #1 spot in America, following Neil Burger’s paranoia-fueled action thriller Limitless, starring Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro in March of this year. Both titles were produced internally by Relativity.

“We are thrilled that our homegrown epic Immortals performed well above internal and industry projections and are gratified that our core audience showed up to this wholly original film. We’re also enthused by the broad and ethnically diverse audience, hoping the positive word-of-mouth will continue the movie’s playability through the Thanksgiving holiday,” said Davies.

Immortals stars Henry Cavill (Superman: Man of Steel), Luke Evans (Robin Hood), Kellan Lutz (Twillight), Isabel Lucas (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen), Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire), Stephen Dorff (Public Enemies), Daniel Sharman (The Collection), Stephen McHattie (Watchmen), Greg Bryk (A History of Violence), PeterStebbings (Jeremiah), Alan VanSprang (Saw III), John Hurt (Hellboy) and Mickey Rourke (Iron Man 2). Directed by Tarsem Singh (The Cell, The Fall) and written by Charles Parlapanides and Vlas Parlapanides, Immortals tells the story of the ruthless King Hyperion (Rourke), who leads his bloodthirsty army on a murderous rampage across Greece to find a deadly weapon that will destroy humanity. A mortal chosen by Zeusnamed Theseus (Cavill) must lead the fight against Hyperion and his evil army with the fate of mankind and the Gods at Stake. The film is executive produced by Relativity’s Tucker Tooley, Working Pictures’ Jeff Waxman, Tommy Turtle, Virgin Produced’s Jason Felts and co-executive produced by Voltage Productions’ Craig Flores, Relativity’s Robbie Brenner and Virgin Produced’s Rene Rigal. Relativity’s Kenneth Halsband served as co-producer.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/immortals
Official Site: http://www.immortalsmovie.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/immortalsfilm

The next film on the studio’s growing slate is Oscar®-winner Steven Soderbergh’s dynamic Haywire debuting in theatres January 20, 2012. This highly anticipated action-thriller stars Channing Tatum, Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor, Michael Angarano, Antonio Banderas, Michael Douglas, Bill Paxton and introduces mixed martial arts (MMA) star Gina Carano in a demanding lead role that has her performing her own high-adrenaline stunts. Haywire tells the story of Mallory Kane, a highly trained operative who works for a government security contractor in the dirtiest, most dangerous corners of the world. After successfully freeing a Chinese journalist held hostage, she is double crossed and left for dead by someone close to her in her own agency. Suddenly the target of skilled assassins who know her every move, Mallory must find the truth in order to stay alive. Using her black-ops military training, she devises an ingenious – and dangerous – trap. But when things go haywire, Mallory realizes she’ll be killed in the blink of an eye unless she finds a way to turn the tables on her ruthless adversary. The release marks Soderbergh’s 25th film.

RelativityMedia just wrapped production on the hilarious comedy 21 & Over and is currently in pre-production on Nicholas Sparks’ gripping love story Safe Haven and the international espionage thriller Hunter Killer. Relativity’s expansive upcoming slate also includes: Act of Valor, a heart-pounding action film starring active duty Navy SEALs (in theatres February 17, 2012), a gritty thriller The Raven (in theatres March 9, 2012), the magical adventure comedy Mirror Mirror (in theatres March 16, 2012), starring Oscar®-winner Julia Roberts, Lily Collins, Nathan Lane, and Armie Hammer and edge-of-your seat thriller House at the End of the Street (in theatres April 20, 2012).

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 10, 2011 – IMAX Corporation today announced that REAL STEEL, an action drama from DreamWorks Pictures, distributed by Touchstone Pictures, earned approximately $4.4 million at the box office in IMAX® theatres worldwide during its three-day opening weekend. Domestically, the film grossed approximately $27.3 million, with IMAX screens generating approximately $3.2 million on 270 screens. Internationally, the film grossed approximately $22.1 million, with 62 IMAX screens generating $1.2 million. There are 42 IMAX screens still to open in various territories, including China.

“REAL STEEL performed quite well in IMAX, particularly for an October release,” said Greg Foster, IMAX Chairman and President of Filmed Entertainment. “With nearly half of our international markets yet to open, combined with the healthy word of mouth and our experience with Shawn Levy’s films, we expect REAL STEEL will have a successful run over the next several weeks across our network.” 

Real Steel: The IMAX Experience has been digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience^® through proprietary IMAX DMR^® technology. With crystal-clear images, laser-aligned digital sound and theatre geometry that maximizes field of view, IMAX provides the world’s most immersive movie experience.

About REAL STEEL

A gritty, white-knuckle, action ride set in the near-future, where the sport of boxing has gone hi-tech, Real Steel stars Hugh Jackman as Charlie Kenton, a washed-up fighter who lost his chance at a title when 2000-pound, 8-foot-tall steel robots took over the ring. Now nothing but a small-time promoter, Charlie earns just enough money piecing together low-end bots from scrap metal to get from one underground boxing venue to the next. When Charlie hits rock bottom, he reluctantly teams up with his estranged son Max (Dakota Goyo) to build and train a championship contender. As the stakes in the brutal, no-holds-barred arena are raised, Charlie and Max, against all odds, get one last shot at a comeback.

DreamWorks Pictures presents REAL STEEL, directed by Shawn Levy, produced by Don Murphy, Susan Montford and Shawn Levy, with a screenplay by John Gatins, story by Dan Gilroy and Jeremy Leven, and based in part on the short story “Steel” by Richard Matheson. REAL STEEL opened in theaters on October 7, 2011.

The film has been rated PG-13 for some violence, intense action and brief language.

IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®, Experience It In IMAX®, An IMAX 3D Experience® and The IMAX Experience® are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information about the Company can be found at www.imax.com. You may also connect with IMAX on Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter (www.twitter.com/imax) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).

The 3D re-release of THE LION KING has moved Disney’s animated film to No. 10 on the list of all-time top grossing films at the domestic box office. The classic has now grossed $98.7 million worldwide, $79.7million in North America and came in at #3 this weekend with $11,057,000 million.

All-Time Top 10 Domestic Grossing Films:

1. Avatar Fox $760,507,625 2009
2. Titanic Paramount $600,788,188 1997
3. The Dark Knight WB $533,345,358 2008
4. Star Wars Fox $460,998,007 1977
5. Shrek 2 DW $441,226,247 2004
6. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial Uni. $435,110,554 1982
7. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace Fox $431,088,301
8. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest BV $423,315,812
9. Toy Story 3 BV $415,004,880 2010
10. The Lion King BV $408,193,776 1994
11. Spider-Man Sony $403,706,375 2002
*BoxOfficeMojo

Its highly anticipated home entertainment debut kicks off October 4, celebrating the Diamond Edition release of THE LION KING in high-definition Blu-ray™ and Blu-ray 3D™.

“THE LION KING is the best-selling home entertainment release of all time-and this is THE LION KING like never before,” said Bob Chapek, president of distribution, The Walt Disney Studios. “The all-new 3D format immerses viewers in the epic settings and puts them face-to-face with these beloved characters. We’re showcasing one of the all-time favorite Disney movies in theaters and making it available in Blu-ray hi-def and in Blu-ray 3D-it’s the must-see, must-own title for everyone.”

Nearly a decade since THE LION KING last appeared on the big screen, the theatrical release invited new generations into the “Circle of Life.” The 3D-only presentation was a planned wide domestic release-the biggest since the film’s 1994 debut-and the film’s first-ever 3D release.

The Blu-ray debut marks the first time THE LION KING has been available in any form since 2004. Featuring pristine high definition picture and sound, the Blu-ray creates an incredible at-home experience with a host of picture and sound enhancements, interactive features and bonus content, including a new set of hilarious animated bloopers

Notable Facts:

• First released in 1994, The Lion King is the highest-grossing traditional hand-drawn animated film of all time and the highest-grossing film from Walt Disney Animation Studios.
• The Lion King is the top-performing home entertainment release ever. The Blu-ray debut marks the first time it has been available in any form since 2004.
• The Lion King is Disney’s best-selling soundtrack. It received Diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (10x platinum). Only four other soundtracks in history have been certified Diamond.
• Best of The Lion King, a collection of songs from and inspired by the films and the show, is currently the #3 soundtrack on iTunes.
• The Lion King has won 2 Academy Awards®, 3 Golden Globes®, 6 Tony Awards® and 3 Grammys®, among other accolades, including over 70 major theatrical honors worldwide.
• The stage show has been seen by more than 60 million people worldwide, grossing over $4.6 billion in 18 productions across 14 countries, spanning 5 continents and 8 languages.
• Current productions include Broadway, North American Tour, Las Vegas, London, Hamburg, Tokyo and Singapore.
  The Lion King opened on Broadway in 1997 and in January 2011 became its seventh longest-running show ever; it continues to be one of the highest-grossing on a weekly basis.
• The North American tour recently completed a record-breaking, sold-out, 32-show premiere engagement at the Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier in Montreal, grossing more than $7 million – the highest-grossing theatrical production in the venue’s history.

 

ABOUT THE LION KING
An unforgettable story, breathtaking animation, beloved characters and award-winning music sets the stage for The Lion King, a Disney classic that follows the adventures of Simba, the feisty lion cub who “just can’t wait to be king.” But his envious Uncle Scar has plans for his own ascent to the throne, and he forces Simba’s exile from the kingdom. Alone and adrift, Simba soon joins the escapades of a hilarious meerkat named Timon and his warmhearted warthog pal, Pumbaa. Adopting their carefree lifestyle of “Hakuna Matata,” Simba ignores his real responsibilities until he realizes his destiny and returns to the Pride Lands to claim his place in the “Circle of Life.” The all-star vocal talents – including Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane, Whoopi Goldberg, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Ernie Sabella, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Robert Guillaume, Cheech Marin and Moira Kelly’s rip-roaring comedy and uplifting messages of courage, loyalty and hope make this a timeless tale for all ages. Produced by Don Hahn and directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff from a script by Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts and Linda Woolverton, The Lion King is rated G by the MPAA.

BURBANK, CA, August 2011 – Continuing to make box office magic, Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2″ has now become the top-grossing release of 2011 in all categories: domestic box office, international box office and worldwide box office. The announcement was made today by Warner Bros. Pictures President of Domestic Distribution, Dan Fellman, and President of International Distribution, Veronika Kwan-Rubinek.

The last installment of the blockbuster motion picture franchise has broken numerous box office records around the world in just under a month since its July opening. As of August 8, the film had earned $344.8 million domestically and $801.5 million internationally, for an astounding worldwide box office gross of $1.146 billion, making “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2″ the third-highest-grossing film worldwide of all time.

Veronika Kwan-Rubinek stated, “‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2′ can truly be called a global phenomenon. The filmmakers and cast, who dedicated their talents to the success of these films for over a decade, share in this piece of cinema history. We congratulate and thank them all.”

Dan Fellman said, “This is another incredible milestone for the last chapter of this historic film series, and for the Harry Potter franchise as a whole. In a crowded and very competitive summer, it is a tribute to both the film and the people behind it that moviegoers are still turning out to enjoy it—whether for the first time or for a repeat viewing.”

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2″ is the final adventure in the Harry Potter film series. In the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalates into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry Potter who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort. It all ends here.

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson reprise their roles as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The film’s ensemble cast also includes Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Tom Felton, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Ciarán Hinds, John Hurt, Jason Isaacs, Matthew Lewis, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, David Thewlis, Julie Walters and Bonnie Wright.

The film was directed by David Yates, and produced by David Heyman, David Barron and J.K. Rowling. Steve Kloves adapted the screenplay, based on the novel by J.K. Rowling. Lionel Wigram is the executive producer.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2″ is the first Harry Potter film to be released in both 3D and 2D. Concurrently with its nationwide theatrical distribution, the film is being released in select IMAX® theatres. The film is being distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. It has been rated PG-13 for some sequences of intense action violence and frightening images.

The weekend actuals for August 5 – 7 are in. 20th Century Fox’s RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES was #1 at the box office with $54 million.

Source: ERC Box Office

HOLLYWOOD, CA (August 3, 2011) – Worldwide box office receipts for TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON, have hit $1 billion, Paramount Pictures announced today. To date, the third installment of the hit Transformers franchise, and the first shot in 3-D, has grossed $338 million in U.S. (through Monday) and $663 million internationally (through Tuesday).

“TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON is the first billion dollar grossing movie in the history of Paramount Pictures, marking a substantial milestone in the 99 year life of this legendary studio,” said Brad Grey, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Paramount Pictures. “We are grateful for the extraordinary work of Michael Bay and his film-making team, executive producer Steven Spielberg, and everyone at Paramount around the globe who played a part in helping make this latest TRANSFORMERS one of the 10 highest grossing films worldwide of all time”.

Earlier this summer, Paramount was the first studio to reach $1 billion in domestic grosses, aided by the $180.7 million opening of TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON over the July 4th holiday. This is the fifth year in a row that Paramount has reached the milestone before any other studio. Paramount Pictures International crossed the $2 billion mark on July 30th, making it the first for any studio this year to reach the benchmark. The studio has had six consecutive movies earning over $100 million at the domestic box office in 2011.

TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON is directed by Michael Bay, written by Ehren Kruger and produced by Don Murphy & Tom DeSanto, Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Ian Bryce. The executive producers are Steven Spielberg, Michael Bay, Brian Goldner and Mark Vahradian. When a mysterious event from Earth’s past erupts into the present day it threatens to bring a war to Earth so big that the Transformers alone will not be able to save us. The movie stars Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, John Turturro, Tyrese Gibson, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Patrick Dempsey, Kevin Dunn, Julie White with John Malkovich and Frances McDormand.

© 2011 Paramount Pictures Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

HASBRO, TRANSFORMERS and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro.

© 2011 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.

For more information, go to www.TransformersMovie.com

ABOUT PARAMOUNT PICTURES CORPORATION:
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands.  The company’s labels include Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies.  PPC operations also include Paramount Digital Entertainment, Paramount Famous Productions, Paramount Home  Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., Paramount Studio Group and Paramount Television & Digital Distribution.

BURBANK, CA – Continuing its record-breaking run, Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2″ has surpassed $1 billion at the worldwide box office, becoming the first in the series—and just the ninth film in cinema history—to reach that benchmark. The announcement was made today by Warner Bros. Pictures President of Domestic Distribution, Dan Fellman, and President of International Distribution, Veronika Kwan-Rubinek. Adding to the records already achieved, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2″ tied the record for the fastest climb to $1 billion. The finale of the blockbuster motion picture franchise crossed the billion dollar mark on Sunday, July 31, only its 17th day in release in North America, as well as most international markets. The film has now earned an estimated $318.46 million domestically and an estimated $690 million on the international side for a worldwide total to date of approximately $1.008 billion, already making it, globally, the top-grossing film in Warner Bros. Pictures’ history.

Dan Fellman stated, “What’s truly astounding is that these kinds of numbers are being achieved so early in the film’s release. The movie’s excellent reviews, outstanding word-of-mouth and repeat business will ensure that Harry Potter will be charming moviegoers for months to come.”

Veronika Kwan-Rubinek remarked, “To say that the global response to the film has been extraordinary would be an understatement. We are so proud that this last film in the series has not only reached such heights but has reached them in record time. It is now Warner Bros.’ most successful release ever, and there is still plenty more to come.”

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2″ is the final adventure in the Harry Potter film series. In the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalates into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry Potter who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort. It all ends here.

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson reprise their roles as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The film’s ensemble cast also includes Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Tom Felton, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Ciarán Hinds, John Hurt, Jason Isaacs, Matthew Lewis, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, David Thewlis, Julie Walters and Bonnie Wright.

The film was directed by David Yates, and produced by David Heyman, David Barron and J.K. Rowling. Steve Kloves adapted the screenplay, based on the novel by J.K. Rowling. Lionel Wigram is the executive producer.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2″ is the first Harry Potter film to be released in both 3D and 2D. Concurrently with its nationwide theatrical distribution, the film is being released in select IMAX® theatres. The film is being distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. It has been rated PG-13 for some sequences of intense action violence and frightening images.

BURBANK, CA – With “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2″ still in the first week of its record-breaking run, the Harry Potter film franchise has now crossed the $7 billion mark worldwide, and counting. The announcement was made by Jeff Robinov, President, Warner Bros. Pictures Group.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2″ has earned an astounding $640.2 million worldwide in its initial week, encompassing $214.9 million domestically and $425.3 million at the international box office.

In addition, the success of the movie has propelled Warner Bros. Pictures’ combined 2011 domestic box office past $1 billion for an eleventh consecutive year, which is an industry record.

Robinov stated, “It is an extraordinary privilege for everyone at Warner Bros. to share in this piece of cinema history. We are extremely grateful to the Harry Potter fans, who have remained loyal to the movies for more than a decade. We also want to congratulate the amazing roster of actors and filmmakers, whose artistry and talent is evident in every frame of every film. But special thanks must go to the woman whose incomparable imagination literally changed the world, Jo Rowling.”

Sue Kroll, Warner Bros. Pictures President of Worldwide Marketing, noted, “Each film has inspired us creatively and it has been exciting to watch the evolution through eight remarkable movies. It has truly been the movie event of a generation, as Harry Potter fans who were there from the beginning have been joined by new fans over the years, and their enthusiasm—as well as our own—has never waned.”

Dan Fellman, Warner Bros. Pictures President of Domestic Distribution, said, “Becoming a $7 billion-plus franchise is a stunning achievement, which is shared by everybody involved in any or all of the Harry Potter films. On the domestic side, the studio is also thrilled to have reached the billion-dollar benchmark for an unprecedented eleventh year in a row. We thank everyone at Warner Bros. whose hard work and dedication have contributed so much to our success.”

Veronika Kwan-Rubinek, Warner Bros. Pictures President of International Distribution, added, “It is a rare pleasure to have an opportunity to be a part of a global event of this magnitude. For ten years, the Harry Potter films have delighted audiences, bridging across countries and continents. We applaud all the actors and filmmakers who have given us the true definition of movie magic.”

The collective Harry Potter films are the highest-grossing franchise of all time, a global record it has held since the success of the sixth film, 2009′s “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” Individually, the worldwide grosses for the previous films stand as: “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” at $974,755,371; “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” at $878,979,634; “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” at $796,688,549; “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” at $896,911,078; “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” at $939,885,929; “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” at $934,416,487; and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1″ at $955,417,476.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2″ is the final adventure in the Harry Potter film series. In the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalates into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry Potter who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort. It all ends here.

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson reprise their roles as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The film’s ensemble cast also includes Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Tom Felton, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Ciarán Hinds, John Hurt, Jason Isaacs, Matthew Lewis, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, David Thewlis, Julie Walters and Bonnie Wright.

The film was directed by David Yates, and produced by David Heyman, David Barron and J.K. Rowling. Steve Kloves adapted the screenplay, based on the novel by J.K. Rowling. Lionel Wigram is the executive producer.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2″ is the first Harry Potter film to be released in both 3D and 2D. Concurrently with its nationwide theatrical distribution, the film is being released in select IMAX® theatres. The film has been digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® through proprietary IMAX DMR® technology.

Opened nationwide on July 15, the film is being distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. It has been rated PG-13 for some sequences of intense action violence and frightening images.

© 2011 Warner Bros. Ent.

Harry Potter Publishing Rights © J.K.R.

Harry Potter characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved.

With an astounding estimated worldwide box office total of more than $476 million, Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2″ shattered multiple domestic and international box office records in a history-making opening weekend. The announcement was made today by Warner Bros. Pictures President of Domestic Distribution, Dan Fellman, and President of International Distribution, Veronika Kwan-Rubinek.

The finale of the globally beloved film series, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2″ earned a stunning $168.5 million at the domestic box office, which not only is the biggest Harry Potter opening weekend but also obliterated the industry’s opening weekend record, including holiday weekends. Among the other records broken were single-day box office (Friday at $92.1 million), Friday box office, and opening day box office.

With the film opening day-and-date in 59 territories, the international box office take was a staggering $307 million, making it the biggest international weekend of all time. Led by record-breaking grosses in the UK ($36.6 million) and Australia ($26.7 million), all markets have performed exceedingly well, including Germany ($25.7 million), France ($23.9 million) and Japan ($21.5 million).

Globally, it also broke the IMAX opening weekend record with a worldwide gross of $23.5 million, which includes setting a new record in North America with $15.5 million.

The film began breaking records even before its opening, as unprecedented advance ticket sales gave the first indication of just how huge the box office bow would be. Midnight opening screenings not only met but exceeded those expectations, with $43.5 million at the domestic box office alone.

Dan Fellman stated, “These numbers are amazing, but they are only part of the story. It is impossible to quantify how thrilled and grateful we all are that both critics and audiences—especially loyal Harry Potter fans—continue to support the film. This is the culmination of an extraordinary decade, and a reflection of the hard work and dedication of many, many people on both sides of the camera, beginning with the brilliant J.K. Rowling, as well as producer David Heyman. We applaud them all.”

Veronika Kwan-Rubinek remarked, “Harry Potter is truly a cultural phenomenon the world over. Whether in German, French, Japanese, Russian, or any language, international audiences have embraced the Harry Potter films over the years, with the powerful finale punctuating just how special the property is. We congratulate everyone associated with the films on this monumental achievement.”

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2″ is the final adventure in the Harry Potter film series. In the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalates into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry Potter who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort. It all ends here.

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson reprise their roles as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The film’s ensemble cast also includes Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Tom Felton, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Ciarán Hinds, John Hurt, Jason Isaacs, Matthew Lewis, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, David Thewlis, Julie Walters and Bonnie Wright.

The film was directed by David Yates, and produced by David Heyman, David Barron and J.K. Rowling. Steve Kloves adapted the screenplay, based on the novel by J.K. Rowling. Lionel Wigram is the executive producer.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2″ is the first Harry Potter film to be released in both 3D and 2D. Concurrently with its nationwide theatrical distribution, the film is being released in select IMAX® theatres. The film has been digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® through proprietary IMAX DMR® technology.

Opened nationwide on July 15, the film is being distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. It has been rated PG-13 for some sequences of intense action violence and frightening images.

© 2011 Warner Bros. Ent.
Harry Potter Publishing Rights © J.K.R.
Harry Potter characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved.

BURBANK, CA, July 15, 2011 — Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2″ smashed the domestic box office record for a midnight opening, taking in a phenomenal $43.5 million. The announcement was made today by Dan Fellman, President, Warner Bros. Pictures Domestic Distribution.

In addition, the film broke the midnight opening record for IMAX theatres, with a $2 million gross on a record number of IMAX screens.

Some midnight showings around the country capped marathon screenings of all the previous Harry Potter movies, leading up to the long-awaited finale. There were fan celebrations at a number of theatres, with audience members dressing up as their favorite characters, turning the release of the film into a shared event.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2″ is also the first in the series to be released in 3D, and many lucky fans attending midnight 3D screenings received commemorative Harry Potter 3D glasses to keep as a souvenir.

The midnight opening record came on the heels of the film setting the record for advance ticket sales. Many of the opening day’s shows were sold out weeks ago as moviegoers rushed to be among the first people to see the last title in the most successful film franchise of all time.

Fellman stated, “What an incredible beginning for the movie that ends it all. The filmmakers and cast crafted a wonderful and fitting finale for this extraordinary franchise, and the response of the fans has been extremely gratifying. Everyone at Warner Bros. joins me in congratulating the many people behind the Harry Potter films. We know this is just the start of what promises to be an astounding weekend and a magical summer.”

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2″ is the final adventure in the Harry Potter film series. In the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalates into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry Potter who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort. It all ends here.

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson reprise their roles as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The film’s ensemble cast also includes Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Tom Felton, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Ciarán Hinds, John Hurt, Jason Isaacs, Matthew Lewis, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, David Thewlis, Julie Walters and Bonnie Wright.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2″ was directed by David Yates, and produced by David Heyman, David Barron and J.K. Rowling. Steve Kloves adapted the screenplay, based on the novel by J.K. Rowling. Lionel Wigram is the executive producer.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2″ is the first Harry Potter film to be released in both 3D and 2D. Concurrently with its nationwide theatrical distribution, the film will be released in select IMAX® theatres. The film has been digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® through proprietary IMAX DMR® technology.

Opening nationwide on July 15, the film is being distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. It has been rated PG-13 for some sequences of intense action violence and frightening images.

www.harrypotter.com

© 2011 Warner Bros. Ent.
Harry Potter Publishing Rights © J.K.R.
Harry Potter characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved.

Burbank CA, May 27, 2011 —Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ “The Hangover Part II” has already broken multiple records on only its first day in release, it was announced today by Dan Fellman, Warner Bros. Pictures President of Domestic Distribution.

Box offices around the country got a midnight wake-up call when the Todd Phillips-directed comedy took in $10.4 million, shattering the previous midnight-opening record for an R-rated film. The sum also more than doubled the record for a midnight opening of any 2011 film to date. With the widest opening of any R-rated film, “The Hangover Part II” went on to earn a total of $31.7 million on its opening day, setting a new opening day record for a comedy.

In making the announcement, Fellman stated, “From the tracking, we knew audiences couldn’t wait for another ‘Hangover,’ but these numbers are through the roof. Leave it to Todd Phillips to create a new must-see comedy that has people lining up at the box office and rolling in the aisles. Congratulations to him, the cast and all the other talents behind the film on making another unforgettable comedy.”

In “The Hangover Part II” Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms), Alan (Zach Galifianakis) and Doug (Justin Bartha) travel to exotic Thailand for Stu’s wedding. With the memory of Doug’s nearly disastrous bachelor party in Las Vegas still fresh—or at least well-documented—Stu is taking no chances. He has opted for a safe, subdued, pre-wedding trip brunch, with pancakes, coffee…and no alcohol. However, things don’t always go as planned. Two nights before the big day, at a fabulous resort in Thailand, Stu relents. One beer each. In sealed bottles. What could go wrong?

What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but what happens in Bangkok can’t even be imagined.

“The Hangover Part II” is director Todd Phillips’ follow-up to his 2009 smash hit “The Hangover,” which became the highest-grossing R-rated comedy of all time and also won the Golden Globe for Best Film – Comedy or Musical.

Reprising their roles, Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, and Justin Bartha star in the film. The main cast also includes Ken Jeong and Jeffrey Tambor, who also return from the first film, and Mason Lee, Jamie Chung and Paul Giamatti, who join the ensemble.

The screenplay is by Craig Mazin & Scot Armstrong & Todd Phillips. Phillips also produced the film under his Green Hat Films banner, together with Dan Goldberg. Thomas Tull, Scott Budnick, Chris Bender and J.C. Spink are the executive producers, with David A. Siegel and Jeffrey Wetzel serving as co-producers.

“The Hangover Part II” is a presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures, in association with Legendary Pictures, and will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. The film has been rated R for pervasive language, strong sexual content including graphic nudity, drug use and brief violent images.

www.hangoverpart2.com

December 24-26

(Note: Some figures are reflecting adjusted grosses since they had an earlier release date that is included)

What a variety for the 2010 holiday crowd this year. Among the box office hits were movies of fantasy, true stories, sequels, remakes, and re-imaginings-oh my! The three films in the Top 10 that were bumped from last week’s listing were HOW DO YOU KNOW, HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHY HALLOWS PART 1, AND UNSTOPPABLE, and 3 new releases moved into the empty slots.

LITTLE FOCKERS, the third installment in an extremely lucrative franchise about the family Universal built, was released on December 22, 2010 and has a total gross of $45,083,800 in 3,536 theaters averaging $8,720 each. If these numbers keep up, this trilogy has its’ eyes on track to make up a billion dollar trio for the studio.

The remake of TRUE GRIT by the Coen Brothers came galloping in with strong numbers in second place. Paramount released this feature on December 22, 2010, and has since reigned in a solid $36,068,000 in 3,047 theaters with an average $8,156, almost recovering the released budget of $38 million in less than one week.

The last of the new releases this week that sailed into the Top 10 was Fox studio’s GULLIVER’S TRAVELS. Jack Black can usually reel in some large numbers, but not this trip. Even though it landed at number eight in the box office standings this week, the $6,307,691 is small compared to the top two films. It was released on December 25th in only 2,546 theaters, but still only an average of $2,477 per theater which was disappointing.

The rest of the new releases were almost unknown or in an extremely limited release phase. TEES MAAR KHAN, a Bollywood film by Farah Khan; SOMEWHERE By Sofia Coppola; THE ILLUSIONIST (2010), an animated foreign film; COUNTRY STRONG awaiting the wide release January 7, 2011; HADEWIJCH by French writer/director Bruno Dumont; SUMMER WARS (a dubbed 2009 Japanese animated film); finally, last but not least, NENETTE, a documentary of an aged orangutan by Nicolas Philibert.

And now for the weekly rankings…

The Top 10 (12/24-26)

1.LITTLE FOCKERS $30,833,665

2.TRUE GRIT (2010) $24,850,000

3.TRON:LEGACY $19,151,498

4.THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA:THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER $9,478,043

5.YOGI BEAR $7,835,000

6.THE FIGHTER $7,605,000

7.TANGLED $6,427,816

8.GULLIVER’S TRAVELS $6,307,691

9.BLACK SWAN $6,254,986

10.THE TOURIST $5,400,000

Well, WAMG readers, it’s official. Disney has made history with its release of two $1 billion films in a single year. 

Here’s the official press release: 

DISNEY•PIXAR’S TOY STORY 3 WILL CROSS $1 BILLION TODAY; DISNEY TO BECOME FIRST STUDIO WITH TWO $1 BILLION FILMS IN ONE YEAR

BURBANK, Calif. – August 27, 2010 – Two weeks after becoming the highest-grossing animated film of all time, Disney•Pixar’s TOY STORY 3 will cross the $1 billion mark at the global box office today, joining ALICE IN WONDERLAND as the second $1 billion film this year from The Walt Disney Studios – the first studio in history to accomplish this feat. Disney first crossed the $1 billion threshold with PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST in 2006. TOY STORY 3 becomes the only animated film to reach this milestone and the seventh title in industry history. 

“It’s been an incredible year as we saw the Pixar team bring Buzz and Woody back to the big screen and watched Tim Burton’s vision for  take the world by storm,” said Rich Ross, Chairman, The Walt Disney Studios.  “These box office triumphs prove that creative storytelling brought to life by imaginative, inspired and talented professionals is something audiences respond to the world over.”  

As of Thursday (8/26/10), TOY STORY 3 tallied more than $592.9 million internationally, Disney’s largest international animated release. Latin American audiences have contributed $138 million making TOYSTORY 3 the highest grossing Disney film ever released in the region. TOY STORY 3 is the most successful UK release in Disney history and currently stands as the fourth biggest title in territory history with $102.4 million in box office receipts so far.  In Japan , the film has taken in $111.2 million and spent five consecutive weeks as the #1 movie.TOY STORY 3 currently ranks as the #7 film in global box office history and domestically ranks #9 with $404.6 million in receipts to date. 

ALICE IN WONDERLAND began setting records during its opening weekend (March 5-7), becoming the biggest March opening in industry history, the highest 3D opening ever and The Walt Disney Studios’ biggest opening for a non-sequel film.  Internationally, the film went on to tally more than $690 million, becoming Disney’s biggest overseas release of all time and the fourth biggest title ever released overseas.  Worldwide, the film took in $1.0243 billion, ranking it as the #5 film in global box office history.  

About The Walt Disney Studios
For more than 85 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under four banners: Walt Disney Pictures, which includes Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios, Disneynature, Marvel, and Touchstone Pictures, which includes the distribution of live action films from DreamWorks Studios. Through the Home Entertainment and Television divisions, innovative distribution methods provide access to creative content across multiple platforms. Original music and motion picture soundtracks are produced under Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records, while Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Broadway theatrical productions, Disney on Ice and Disney LIVE!.  For more information, please visit www.disney.com.

“And that’s all she wrote.”  Reuters  is reporting that 20th Century Fox estimates AVATAR will go past TITANIC as the highest grossing film… $1,848B worldwide… by Monday. Fox also added that in North America, it may take up to 2 weeks before  the World of Pandora  film  sinks the $601 million total of TITANIC. AVATAR’s weekend-domestic gross was $36 million domestically and led the box office for a sixth straight weekend totaling $552.8 million. Staggers the mind! On Saturday, it  surpassed THE DARK KNIGHT for second place in the record books.

A moment of silence for the unsinkable  RMS TITANIC.

Source: REUTERS

‘G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra’ will show at a staggering 4,007 theaters this weekend and  I estimate its take at somewhere over $50 million. Despite some of  the top-critics reviews, ‘GI Joe’s’ box office will obviously be  driven by strong word-of-mouth. Paramount has really done its job by ignoring all the  nay-sayers and going forth with  a heavy  marketing campaign. Having seen it just today, I can tell you that director Stephen Sommers (‘The Mummy’) keeps the pace clipping along with two hours full of battles, chases through Paris, explosions, high-tech suits and weapons, futuristic air/land/undersea ships, and cameos throughout.  ”The JOES”  will not disappoint.

$22.2 million.   That’s how much ‘Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince’ made at its very first screenings at midnight Tuesday night/Wednesday morning.   This trounces the previous record for midnight showings of $18.5 million for last year’s ‘The Dark Knight.’‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’ opened at midnight on a Wednesday last month.   At the time, that film’s $16-million take was the largest midnight run for a Wednesday release, a record ‘Half Blood Prince’ also took.   The last ‘Harry Potter’ film, ‘The Order of the Phoenix,’ opened on a Wednesday in July of 2007.   That film made $12 million in midnight shows, $44 million in its opening day, and ended up raking in $292 million in total, domestic sales.

Some analysts are saying ‘Half Blood Prince’ has the chance of breaking the $200 million mark by this Sunday.   At that rate, it has the chance of beating the current record for fastest to $200 million of five days for both ‘The Dark Knight’ and ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.’

‘Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince’ is opening on 4275 screens today, which is actually less screens than ‘Order of the Phoenix’ opened on.   All of this is without the aid of being on IMAX, as well.   ‘Transformers’ still has two weeks on its IMAX run, and ‘Half Blood Prince’ is not scheduled to debut on IMAX until July 29th.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter