Universal Pictures On Track for Record Year At Worldwide Box Office

Since June 2012, Universal Pictures has released 16 films, 10 of which became No. 1 at the North American box office and three were No. 1 twice.

Building on its 2012 momentum, Universal Pictures' hot streak has continued deep into 2013 and it is now on pace for a record year at the worldwide box office. In North America and internationally, the studio has already reached the $1 billion milestone quicker than ever before in the studio’s 101-year history (May 31/July 20 respectively). 

Here are more highlights from Universal's big year so far.

• Universal’s worldwide total to date is $2.6 billion— $1.6 billion coming from international markets and $1 billion in North America. 

• Universal’s top earners of the year, Fast & Furious 6 and Illumination Entertainment’s Despicable Me 2, are the second and third highest-grossing films of 2013 worldwide, trailing only Iron Man 3.

• Illumination Entertainment and Universal’s smash hit Despicable Me 2 was the No. 1 film worldwide for three weeks in a row, racking up $662 million worldwide in just four weeks in release. Despicable Me 2 is the highest grossing animated film of 2013 worldwide and the second highest grossing film in North America this year.

• The sixth and most successful film in the Fast & Furious franchise, Fast & Furious 6, opened No. 1 in all 66 territories where it was released and scored Universal’s highest worldwide opening in the studio’s history. Fast & Furious is now Universal’s highest grossing franchise ever ($2.3 billion), overtaking the Jurassic Park franchise ($1.9 billion). To date, the film has grossed $741.3.

• Fast & Furious 6 and Despicable Me 2’s digital games were both No. 1 on iOS and Android charts.

• The first micro-budget film from Universal under the studio’s production deal with Jason Blum, The Purge, opened beyond Universal and the industry’s wildest expectations grossing 10 times its budget in the first weekend and has grossed over $64 million since its release.

• Les Misérables is the second highest grossing movie musical in history with a worldwide gross of $440.8 million, only behind Universal’s own Mamma Mia! ($605.9 million). It opened on Christmas Day and scored the biggest non-weekend Christmas Day opening in North American history.

• Les Misérables and Pitch Perfect soundtracks were the No. 1 and No. 2 soundtracks of 2013 and Anna Kendrick’s single Cups from Pitch Perfect went platinum.

• The breakout comedy hit Ted is the highest grossing original R-rated comedy of all time with $549 million in box office receipts worldwide.