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Monday
Dec282009

Warner Bros. Wins 2009 Studio Derby with $2 Billion

DateMonday, December 28, 2009 at 10:56PM
Owing as much to unexpected hits as total smashes everyone knew would be blockbusters, Warner Bros. earned over $2.1 billion in the United States this year, making it the box office champ once again. Last year, the biggest factor was obviously The Dark Knight, but in 2009, WB had Harry Potter and Terminator earmarked as its biggest sluggers, although it didn't work out that way.

Potter is presently the number two film of the year, but Terminator tumbled, taking in just over $125 million and finishing outside the top 20. However, let's not forget about The Hangover, The Blind Side, and Gran Torino, hich is technically a 2008 release, but its early 2009 expansion added over $100 million more to the studio's total. Actually, that film helped Warners crutch through a trio of underperforming films in he first half of the year, Watchmen, Observe and Report, and, as we mentioned, Terminator.

The second half of the year was enormous. Nobody expected The Hangover to make more than a quarter-billion more than it cost, The Blind Side has been the surprise hit of this season, and Sherlock Holmes will get close to $100 million in its first week.

Here's where it gets interesting: Fox may take the international box office total, thanks in part to Avatar, but the studio's Ice Age 3 is the third biggest movie in foreign territories ever, which is not something anyone would have figured six months ago. The finish line worldwide is around $4 billion this year for the top studio; Warner Bros. right now is pacing at about $3.99 billion, so depending on what Avatar does this week, Fox could usurp WB for that crown.

This is the third straight year Warner Bros. has owned the top spot domestically, and the $2 billion this year is about a 10% increase from 2008.

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Reader Comments (1)

Dang I think mainly b/c they make films that are mega movies like you said ie The Dark Knight & Harry Potter franchise...

I must say Watchmen must of been a huge let down for them, I liked the film & it sucks it turned out that way...

Tuesday, December 29, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterSEAN

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