Warner Bros. Emerges as Top-Grosser in 2013, Announces 2014 Movie Line-up!

POTATO ON THE GO NEWS FEED (Movie):

In a record-breaking year, Warner Bros. Pictures emerged as the top-grossing studio for 2013, ranking number one in domestic, international and worldwide market shares. The Studio took in an estimated combined global box office gross of $5.035 billion, setting a new Warner Bros. benchmark and becoming only the second studio ever to cross the $5 billion threshold. It also marked the fifth consecutive year Warner Bros. has surpassed $4 billion worldwide, which is an industry record. Globally, the Studio has now ranked #1 or #2 in nine of the past ten years, also an industry record.

Warner Bros. has crossed the $1 billion mark, both domestically and internationally, 13 years in a row, another industry record. The Studio took in an estimated $1.895 billion at the domestic box office, with eight films crossing $100 million, including three that went on to gross more than $200 million. At the international box office, Warner Bros. set a new Studio record of $3.14 billion, marking the fourth consecutive year—and the sixth year overall—that it has earned more than $2 billion. Ten Warner Bros. releases earned more than $100 million internationally, of which seven grossed more than $200 million—both unprecedented achievements for the Studio. In addition, two of those films took in more than $300 million, and two more crossed the $400 million mark.


Two current hits, still in theatres, are among the Studio’s highest-grossing films for the year: “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” at $659 million worldwide and counting; and “Gravity,” at $663 million to date. The Summer blockbuster “Man of Steel” was the Studio’s top-grossing release for the year, at $668 million globally. Among the other worldwide box office highlights for 2013 are: “Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures Pacific Rim,” with $411 million; “The Hangover Part III” at $362 million; “The Great Gatsby” at $351 million; “The Conjuring,” with $318 million; and “We’re the Millers” at $270 million.

Moving into 2014, the Studio’s First Quarter titles include:

“Grudge Match” – Starring movie legends Robert De Niro and Sylvester Stallone as old boxing rivals who come out of retirement for one final match.

“The LEGO Movie” - The first-ever, full-length theatrical LEGO® adventure which will incorporate some of the LEGO world’s most popular figures while introducing several new characters, inviting fans who have enjoyed the brand’s innovative toys and hugely popular video games for generations to experience their visually unique LEGO world as never seen before.

“Winter’s Tale” - Set in a mythic New York City and spanning more than a century, this story of miracles, crossed destinies, and the age-old battle between good and evil stars Colin Farrell, Russell Crowe and Jessica Brown Findlay.

“300: Rise of an Empire” - Told in the breathtaking visual style of the blockbuster “300,” this new chapter of the epic saga takes the action to a fresh battlefield—on the sea—as Greek general Themistokles attempts to unite all of Greece by leading the charge that will change the course of the war.

For its Summer slate, Warner will rollout more potential blockbusters led by:

“Godzilla” - An epic rebirth to Toho's iconic Godzilla, this spectacular adventure pits the world's most famous monster against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity's scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence.

“Edge of Tomorrow” - Starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt, the epic action unfolds in a near future in which an alien race has hit the Earth in an unrelenting assault, unbeatable by any military unit in the world.

“Blended” - This comedy marks the third collaboration between Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, following their successful onscreen pairings in the hit romantic comedies “50 First Dates” and “The Wedding Singer.”

“Jupiter Ascending” - Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis star in this original science fiction epic adventure from “Matrix” filmmakers Lana and Andy Wachowski.

“Into The Storm” - Told through the eyes and lenses of professional storm chasers, thrill-seeking amateurs, and courageous townspeople, this thriller throws you directly into the eye of the storm to experience Mother Nature at her most extreme. Starring “The Hobbit's” Richard Armitage. Come Fall, the Studio will release:

“Jersey Boys” – Clint Eastwood directs the legendary story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons and tells the meteoric tale of how a group of blue-collar boys from the wrong side of the tracks became one of the biggest American pop music sensations of all time.

“Tammy” – A fast food employee (Melissa McCarthy) loses her job and heads out on the road with her grandmother (Susan Sarandon) in this comedy written by the “Bridesmaids” star.

“Dolphin Tale 2” will tell another true story inspired by the life of Winter, but also involves a new baby dolphin named Hope who was rescued by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in 2010.

“Inherent Vice” – Based on the Thomas Pynchon novel, which is part noir, part psychedelic romp, the Joaquin Phoenix-Reese Witherspoon starrer provides a classic illustration of the principle that if you can remember the sixties, you weren't there.

“The Judge” – Robert Downey Jr. stars as big city lawyer who returns to his childhood home where his estranged father, the town’s judge (Robert Duvall), is suspected of murder.

“Interstellar” – Directed by Christopher Nolan, this epic thriller chronicles the adventures of a group of explorers (Matthew McConnaughey, Anne Hathaway) who make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage.

“Horrible Bosses 2” – The follow-up to the 2011 hit comedy reunites Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis as everyone’s favorite working stiffs Nick, Dale and Kurt. Jennifer Aniston, Jamie Foxx and Kevin Spacey also reprise their starring roles, while Chris Pine and Christoph Waltz star as new adversaries standing between the guys and their dreams of success.

“This Is Where I Leave You” – Based on the hilarious and poignant best-selling novel by Jonathan Tropper, it features a starring ensemble cast including Jason Bateman, Tina Fey and Jane Fonda.

“Live By Night” – Ben Affleck writes, produces, and stars in this adaptation of Dennis Lehane's sprawling crime novel centering on the prodigal son of a prominent police chief, and his gradual descent into the criminal underworld.

“The Hobbit: There and Back Again” – The final film in an epic Trilogy adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien. The three films tell a continuous story set in Middle-earth 60 years before “The Lord of the Rings.”

So, there you go for Warner Bros.!  And I'm sure you'll agree with me that their line-up will make our movie time for 2014 another rock n' roll ride!  See you at the movies folks! :)