Universal Hits $1 Billion in Domestic Ticket Sales

Buoyed by a string of strong performers, Universal Pictures has crossed the $1 billion mark at the domestic box office, three months earlier than at any time in the studio's history.

Universal is on course for a record year in terms of ticket sales and boasts four of the 15 top-grossing films of 2012 domestically: Dr. Seuss' The Lorax ($214 million), Ted ($203.6 million), Snow White & the Huntsman ($153.8 million) and Safe House ($126.4 million).

It also Universal is one of only two studios with two films that have grossed more than $200 million this year; the other is Disney with The Avengers and Brave.

Universal -- whose progress was slowed by May box-office misfire Battleship -- wasn't the first to the party in terms of hitting the $1 billion mark, a feat already accomplished this year by Disney, Warner Bros. and Sony.

Overseas, Universal jumped the $1 billion mark July 17, also setting a personal speed record.

Upcoming Universal releases include The Bourne Legacy -- which opens Friday -- Pitch Perfect and The Man With the Iron Fists.