Disney has shattered industry records, setting a new benchmark for annual box office revenues to become the first studio to hit $7 billion globally. All it took was a “Star Wars” spinoff, a trio of animated smashes, and a pair of Marvel films. That list of blockbuster heavy hitters is a sign of just how formidable a competitor Disney has become for other major studios.
The news comes on the heels of “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’s” release last weekend. The space opera prequel pulled in nearly $300 million globally, and is expected to dominate ticket sales over the winter holidays. Universal set the previous record, amassing $6.89 billion in 2015 thanks to blockbusters such as “Furious 7,” “Minions,” and “Jurassic World.”
Earlier this year, Disney became the fastest studio to hit $2 billion domestically, $3 billion internationally, and $5 billion globally.