MUMBAI: Walt Disney Pictures’ and Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, added a new milestone on 8 September, 2006 when it crossed the $1 billion mark ($1,002.6 billion) at the global box office, and became only the third film in history (behind Titanic and Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King) to achieve this feat. This announcement was made by The Walt Disney Studios chairman Dick Cook.

The film, which continues to break records around the world, has topped the international box office for nine consecutive weeks. Thus far, Pirates has grossed $415.1 million at the US box office, making it the number one film of the year. Internationally, its cumulative tally now stands at $587.5 million, also making it the number number one film of the year. Pirates is scheduled to open in Italy on 13 September, 2006.

Cook said, “To say we are excited is an understatement. This is truly an historical time for The Walt Disney Studios and a time to celebrate. Pirates continues to perform on all cylinders and this is a real tribute to the remarkable team of Jerry Bruckheimer, Gore Verbinski, Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom, and writers Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio. The film’s phenomenal success all over the world proves once again that audiences will vote to come back again and again when presented with great entertainment.”

He added, “I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention how proud we are of our other summer successes including Cars, Step Up and Invincible. It’s a summer that you dream about and it came together with amazing talent and diverse stories that everyone could relate to.”

Box Office Facts:

U.S.

• Highest three-day opening in box-office history ($135.6 million)
  
• First film in box office history to pass $100 million in only two days
  
• Tied as fastest film in history to reach $200 million (8 days)
  
• Fastest film in box office history to pass $300 million (16 days)
  
• Passed the $305.4 million final gross of its predecessor (Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl) in the same 16 days as above
  
• Opening day gross ($55.8 million) is highest single-day gross in box-office history
  
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest is the 51st film in Buena Vista history to pass $100 million in gross, the most of any studio
  
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest is the 13th film in Buena Vista history to pass $200 million in gross, the most of any studio
  
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest is the highest grossing film in Buena Vista history and the sixth highest grossing film of all time ($414.0 million through 9/4/06 and still counting!)

International

• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest is the biggest international release of 2006.
  
• It is the sixth biggest film ever released internationally.
  
• The film is the most popular international release in the history of The Walt Disney Studios.
  
• Since its initial weekend of release overseas, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest has ranked #1 for nine consecutive weekends in a row. This is the longest consecutive weekend reign of any film this century (and surpasses the previous record of seven weekends held by Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl in 2003.
  
• Biggest BVI opening of all-time: Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Brazil, Croatia, Czech, Egypt, Estonia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia, So. Africa, Malaysia, Holland, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, UAE, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela
  
• Biggest BVI film of all time: Argentina, Bahrain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Chile, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Jordan, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Norway, Oman, Russia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Switzerland, UAE, UK
  
• Biggest industry opening of All Time: Greece, Russia, Spain
  
• Biggest US film of all time: Russia
  
• 52nd in BVI history to pass $100M in gross, the most of any studio
  
• 19th in BVI history to pass $200M in gross, the most of any studio