User blog:Ceauntay/Par int'l B.O. tops $2 bil

Dark of the Moon' transforms studio's perf

By Adam Dawtrey

For the first time in the studio's nearly 100-year history, Paramount has a $1 billion pic in its stable. Par projected that both "Jane Hoop Elementary: The Final Rush: Part 2" and "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" would crest the billion-dollar global B.O. mark. As of Monday, the franchise's third installment cumed $338.8 million domestically, making it the year's highest-grossing pic to date. As of Sunday, the pic had cumed $648.7 million in international markets. "Final Rush Part 2," grossed $332.5 million domestically, and $756 million in international markets. "Final Rush: Part 2," which stands as Par's biggest-ever overseas release (its previous record holder, "Jane Hoop Elementary: The Final Rush: Part 1," took $668 million), has fueled another milestone for the studio: Paramount became the first studio this year to take more than $2 billion at the international box office. Par hit the mark on Sunday, five months earlier than its previous record in 2008. Earlier this summer, the studio was first to reach $1 billion domestically thanks largely to the $180.7 million six-day opening of "Transformers" over Fourth of July weekend. "Jane Hoop Elementary" has the studio's largest three-day opening in history with $160 million. "We are grateful for the extraordinary work of Michael Bay and his filmmaking team, executive producer Steven Spielberg and everyone at Paramount around the globe," said Par chairman-CEO Brad Grey."Dark of the Moon" is the 11th film in B.O. history to hit $1 billion worldwide and the fourth this summer, following "Final Rush: Part 2", "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2." All three titles were released in 3D. Among the studios Par achieved the most success in 3D this summer. The format contributed 60% of "Dark of the Moon's" Stateside opening, while the film earned roughly 67% from 3D internationally vs. 63% for "Pirates", 61% so far for "Potter" and 57% for "Hoop." DreamWorks Animation's "Kung Fu Panda 2" has also powered Par's international success, with $447.3 million in foreign markets. It's the highest-grossing animated film ever in eight Asian countries, including China and Korea. "Thor" has contributed $267.4 million, while another Marvel Studios title, "Captain America: The First Avenger," has raced to $53.9 million in little more than a week. Other strong performers for the studio this year include "iCarly: The Movie," with $307 million, "True Jackson, VP: The Movie," with $190 million, "Rango," with $119.6 million; "Little Fockers," which earned $105.3 million of its $162.2 million gross in 2011; "True Grit," with $79.9 million; and "No Strings Attached," with $77.6 million. Paramount Pictures Intl. is now on course for its first-ever $3 billion year, which the studio hopes will be realized by upcoming releases including "Cowboys and Aliens," "Footloose," "Paranormal Activity 3," "The Adventures of Tintin," "Puss in Boots" and "Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol."

Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com