Universal Pictures achieves record-breaking year

Universal Pictures recorded its largest year ever in 2008 with global box office numbers totaling $2.8 billion. Internationally, Universal shattered last year’s box-office numbers with $1.7 billion in 2008, a year-over-year improvement of 66 percent. Domestically, Universal outpaced its previous record with $1.12 billion in 2008.

The studio also released four films this year that grossed more than $100 million domestically: “The Incredible Hulk,” “Wanted,” “Mamma Mia!” and “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.”

The stand out success story of the year was “Mamma Mia!” – the studio’s biggest earner both domestically ($144 million) and internationally ($428.5 million). The musical-turned-movie truly became a global phenomenon of “Titanic” proportions (speaking both metaphorically and of the ‘97 James Cameron classic). In 2008, “Mamma Mia!” became the most popular film in the history of the United Kingdom (a record held previously by said Cameron classic) and was the highest grossing film of the year in the U.K., Austria, Greece, Hungary, Norway and Sweden.

* Read the release.

* Reuters: Universal Pictures says hits record box office in 2008
* New York Times: Hollywood’s Superheroes Save the Day
* Blogging Stocks: Universal Pictures had a great year — does it matter?

* “Mamma Mia!” Web site