MUMBAI: On the strength of powerful overseas openings for films such as Valentine’s Day, Clash of the Titans and Sherlock Holmes, Warner Bros. Pictures International (WBPI) has surpassed the $1 billion threshold in overseas box office in less than five months, a studio record.

This marks the tenth consecutive year the division has grossed over $1 billion overseas, beginning in 2001. WBPI hits this high water mark as it gears up for a full slate of tentpoles later in the year, including such highly anticipated films as Michael Patrick King’s Sex and the City 2, Christopher Nolan’s Inception, Todd Phillips’s Due Date, David Yates’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I and Clint Eastwood’s Hereafter.

The division enjoyed a strong start with the continued overseas success of Sherlock Holmes, which grossed $262 million in 2010 ($314 million total international box office). The subsequent 2D and 3D release of Clash of the Titans recently topped a staggering $313 million overseas. Other high-grossing international releases included Valentine’s Day, Invictus and The Blind Side, providing further momentum.

"This is a wonderful benchmark and is truly a testament to our global marketing teams, who continue to find powerful and innovative ways to reach moviegoers of every taste. "Their hard work and ingenuity is further buoyed by the wonderful films we have on our slate, as well as the appeal and draw of our terrific actors and filmmakers," said Sue Kroll, President, Worldwide Marketing, Warner Bros. Pictures.

"This benchmark speaks to the strength and diversity of the line-up and our incredible team’s contributions, here and around the world. 2010 promises to be an extraordinary year internationally for exhibition and distribution alike. With so much great product to come, as well as strong admissions growth fuelled by the ongoing expansion of 3D offerings and venues, it’s an exciting time for our business," added Veronika Kwan-Rubinek, President, International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.