'Transformers: Dark of the Moon' Crosses $1 Billion Mark

In a notable victory for Paramount and director Michael Bay, threequel Transformers: Dark of the Moon has become the first film in the franchise to reach $1 billion in worldwide grosses.

our editor recommends

'Transformers: Dark of the Moon': How the Sequel's Star Cars Were Cast

'Transformers: Dark of the Moon' Breaks Imax Box Office Record in China

'Transformers 3' Earns $37.3 Mil, Best Opening Day Gross of 2011

'Transformers 3': 5 Things You Didn't Know About Its Sound

Related Topics

•

Through Tuesday, the pic’s international cume was $663 million; through Monday, its domestic total was $338.8 million, the top grossing film of the year in North America.

PHOTOS: Billion Dollar Babies: Movies That Have Crossed the 10 Figure Mark

Dark of the Moon is only the 10th film in history to hit the $1 billion mark, as well as securing the record for top Paramount pic of all time. The film’s performance has no doubt been boosted by being the first title in the series to be shot and released in 3D.

Paramount chairman-CEO Brad Gray said Dark of the Moon was “a substantial milestone in the 99 year life" of the studio.

PHOTOS: Best and Worst Alien Movies

"We are grateful for the extraordinary work of Michael Bay and his film-making team, executive producer Steven Spielberg, and everyone at Paramount around the globe who played a part in helping make this latest Transformers one of the 10 highest grossing films worldwide of all time,” Gray said.

While the domestic box office has been lagging in recent months, the international market is booming, particularly for 3D titles.

VIDEO: THR’s Summer Blockbuster Writers’ Roundtable

Dark of the Moon is the third summer 2011 tentpole to hit $1 billion, after Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Warner Bros.' Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, both of which were also released in 3D.

Earlier this summer, Paramount became the first Hollywood studio to reach $1 billion in domestic grosses, aided by the $180.7 million opening of Dark of the Moon over the July 4 holiday.

PHOTOS: 10 Top Summer Superheroes of All Time: Battle of Box Office Brawn

This is the fifth year in a row that Paramount has reached the milestone before any other studio in North America. Paramount International crossed the $2 billion mark on July 30, making it the first for any studio this year to reach the benchmark.