Universal Pictures, with $5.53-billion take, sets global box-office record
Film studio Universal Pictures movies have grossed $5.53 billion in global ticket sales in 2015, breaking in just seven months the record for highest yearly gross.
Propelled by hits such as “Jurassic World” and “Furious 7,” the Los Angeles studio’s worldwide total edged past the high point marked by 20th Century Fox last year.
In 2014, Fox scored $5.52 billion in box-office receipts thanks largely to “X-Men: Days of Future Past” and “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.” Before that, Paramount Pictures held the record at $5.17 billion, set in 2011.
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Universal’s blockbuster year consists of two movies that have crossed the billion-dollar mark: “Jurassic World” ($1.56 billion) and “Furious 7” ($1.51 billion). The “Despicable Me” prequel “Minions” has generated “$875 million in ticket sales.
Other hits include “Fifty Shades of Grey” and “Pitch Perfect 2.”
Universal’s movies have scored $1.94 billion in the U.S. and Canada, plus $3.59 billion overseas.
The studio still has a couple of major pictures left to go this year, such as the N.W.A biopic “Straight Outta Compton” and “Steve Jobs,” about the late Apple co-founder.
Follow Ryan Faughnder on Twitter for more entertainment business coverage: @rfaughnder
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