Paramount claims top movie studio crown
2012-01-03 13:26
Los Angeles - Paramount Pictures claimed top-dog status in Hollywood on Monday, saying its 16 releases grossed a record $5.17bn around the world, more than any other American studio.
In a statement, the Viacom unit said that after releasing 16 films this year, it had placed first in North American market share with $1.96bn, besides reaping a record $3.21bn overseas.
Its biggest money-spinner was director Michael Bay's toy-inspired sci-fi action flick Transformers: Dark of the Moon, the first Paramount release ever to gross more than $1bn worldwide.
Tom Cruise
Other top earners included Marvel Studio's Thor, which took in $181m domestically, and Brad Bird's Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol starring Tom Cruise, the most-seen film over Christmas and New Year's.
"As we prepare to celebrate Paramount's 100th year in 2012, we are all grateful to be part of this wonderful institution as it continues to prosper," said chairman and chief executive Brad Grey.
Topping the list of new films out of Paramount in 2012 are Marc Forster's World War Z, a zombie movie starring Brad Pitt, and Larry Charles' The Dictator, starring Sacha Baron Cohen of Borat fame.