Universal Pictures International reported that its overseas box-office grosses have passed the $1 billion mark on the strength of such recent movies as Battleship and Snow White and the Huntsman, The Hollywood Reporter said.
It’s the fastest that Universal’s international distribution arm has hit that mark, besting its previous record of Aug. 16, set in 2008, when it was handling films including Mamma Mia! and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.
With the international audience growing, UPI is the fifth distributor to collect $1 billion in foreign grosses this year; Disney and Warner Bros. hit that mark in May, Fox in June and Sony in July.
Universal movies that have contributed to its foreign haul 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 are still in release, and The Lorax has yet to open in nine territories including France, Germany, the U.K. and China. Also, the R-rated comedy Ted, a big hit on the domestic front, and the new Oliver Stone thriller Savages have just begun their international rollouts.
