US box office enjoys record summer (2009)
Story by Jack Foley
THE US box office has enjoyed a record summer in 2009 thanks to the success of movies such as Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince.
According to figures just released, the 2009 summer box office total currently stands at $4.17 billion compared with 2007’s previously record-breaking $4.16 billion. With Labor Day weekend yet to come, pundits are expecting at least another $100 million to be added to that total.
A large part of 2009’s success has been attributed to the success of the Transformers and Harry Potter sequels, as well as the soar away Disney-Pixar hit Up.
Transformers has grossed $399.4 million to date, Harry Potter $294.3 million and counting and Up $289.6 million.
There has also been several surprise hits, including adult comedy The Hangover, which has taken $270.2 million in the US, and Sandra Bullock-Ryan Reynolds rom-com The Proposal, which is now the highest-grossing summer romantic comedy of all time with $160.2 million.
JJ Abrams’ Star Trek reboot and X-Men Origins: Wolverine also performed ahead of expectations, as did sequels for Night At The Museum, Ice Age and The Da Vinci Code (with Angels & Demons).
GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra is also expected to register strong final figures.
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