A spokesperson said on Monday (18) the studio had broken its previous best North American box office for a calendar year of $1.335bn set in 2012.

The new mark of $1.352bn was registered on November 17 and couples with the current international box office of $2.2bn for a $3.49bn worldwide score.

Universal overtook the previous best marks of $1.794bn for international and $3.129bn for worldwide in August and September, respectively. Both previous record holders were also established in 2012.

The year’s key drivers include Despicable Me 2 on $365.9m, Fast & Furious 6 on $238.7m, Identity Thief on $134.5m, Oblivion on $89.1m, 2 Guns on $75.6m, Mama on $71.6m, The Purge on $64.5m and 2 Guns on $75.6m.

Despicable Me 2 on $916.1m and Fast & Furious 6 on $788m are the second and third biggest worldwide performers of the year-to-date behind Iron Man 3 on $1.22bn.

Two releases lie in wait: the 3D Keanu Reeves action title 47 Ronin and the true-life war story Lone Survivor starring Mark Wahlberg. Both open on December 25.

  • Universal has dated Dumb And Dumber To starring Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels for November 14 2014. 
  • Focus Features will release Insidious: Chapter 3 on April 3 2015.

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