Paramount Secures Highest Box Office Gross In 2011

It has been announced that Paramount Pictures was the highest earning studio of 2011, ending the year in number one position among all studios, having achieved the highest total combined gross for the year.
Paramount emerged out of 2011 amassing record grosses at the international box office with $3.21 billion. Meanwhile it was placed first in the North American market share with $1.96 billion. Worldwide it earned a record $5.17 billion
"This achievement reflects the combined efforts of our entire team across the globe and the careful process by which we select the projects and partners we believe in," said Paramount Pictures Chairman and Chief Executive Brad Grey.
He continued: "This year our studio reached some key milestones, including the release of three vibrant Paramount franchise pictures and our first original CGI animated film.
"Our studio had its first ever $1 billion worldwide grossing film in Michael Bay's hit 'Transformers: Dark of the Moon'; we successfully re-launched our 'Mission Impossible' franchise with Tom Cruise, JJ Abrams and Brad Bird; our latest installment in the 'Paranormal Activity' franchise had another $100 million dollar success; our first original animated film 'Rango,' from director Gore Verbinski, earned rave reviews and more than $100 million at the domestic box office; and we released global phenomenon 'Super 8,' directed by JJ Abrams, who will now direct the newest 'Star Trek' for 2013.
"We also benefited from our distribution partnerships with DreamWorks Animation and Marvel and I want to thank them both."
In 2012, Paramount's release slate highlights include "World War Z," a zombie thriller starring Brad Pitt and directed by Marc Forster, "G.I. Joe: Retaliation," the next installment in the global franchise starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Channing Tatum, a new chapter in the "Paranormal Activity" franchise, and "The Dictator," starring Sacha Baron Cohen and directed by Larry Charles, the team behind "Borat."
(LB)