Universal Pictures International Crosses $1 Billion At Box Office Overseas

Universal Pictures International today announced that Tuesday’s overseas box office will push the studio’s international grosses past the $1 billion mark, one month earlier than ever before. This is the fastest that UPI has reached this milestone, besting a record set on August 16, 2008—through the performance of such global blockbusters as Mamma Mia!, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor and Wanted. 2012 marks the sixth year in a row that Universal has grossed more than $1 billion at the overseas box office.

Films that have contributed to the 2012 success include Safe House, which has grossed $77.5 million to date overseas, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax ($99.7 million), American Reunion ($177.4 million), Battleship ($238 million) and Snow White and the Huntsman ($220 million). All of these films are still in release and The Lorax has yet to open in nine territories including major areas like France, Germany, the U.K. and China. The phenomenally successful domestic hit Ted has also just begun its international run and achieved record business in all four territories in which it has opened. And Savages, the ferocious new thriller from Oliver Stone, has just begun its international rollout as well.

Universal will release five more films in 2012. The Bourne Legacy, the next chapter of the hugely popular espionage franchise, hits theaters worldwide in August. The new out-loud comedy Pitch Perfect lands in October, while the action-thriller The Man With the Iron Fists arrives in November.  The studio wraps 2012 with two films in December: Les Miserables, the motion-picture adaptation of the global stage sensation seen by more than 60 million people in 42 countries and in 21 languages around the globe, and This Is 40, the latest comedy from writer/director Judd Apatow—one of the studio’s longtime collaborators.