Despite losing the multiplex battle over the weekend with “The Holiday” finishing just behind Mel Gibson’s “Apocalypto,” Sony Pictures Entertainment is unquestionably winning the 2006 box-office war, the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
For the first time in studio history, Sony’s worldwide box-office take exceeded $3 billion on the strength of hits including “The Da Vinci Code,” “Casino Royale” and “Click,” which connected with audiences in both the U.S. and foreign markets.
The studio has had 12 of its movies open in first domestically so far this year and has a shot to make it 13 with next weekend’s Will Smith vehicle, “Happyness.” The studio has already surpassed the $1.5 billion mark in domestic grosses and is on pace to surpass its record – and industry best – $1.573 billion achieved in 2002.
