Disney Crosses $1 Billion Mark At Domestic Box Office

Walt Disney Pictures has already crossed the $1 billion mark at the box office this year.

Despite all of the financial woes associated with Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer’s big-budget disaster The Lone Ranger, the studio has generated and impressive amount of money in theaters. Disney’s impressive performance at the box office is no doubt thanks to such success stories as Iron Man 3, Monsters University, and Oz the Great and Powerful.

Not only has Disney earned $1 billion from North American moviegoers, the studio beat its competition to the punch. According to The Wrap, Disney generated this substantial wad of cash before both Warner Bros. and Paramount. Disney has only released four films thus far this year.

Considering the movies Disney still has waiting in the wings, this total is only going to get bigger as the year wears on. Disney will release Frozen, Thor: The Dark World, and Saving Mr. Banks before 2013 is over and out.

Deadline reports that this is the eighth year in a row that Disney has crossed the $1 billion mark before the other major studios. Although the company had a major setback this year with The Lone Ranger, this didn’t stop the folks at Disney from pocketing a substantial amount of money.

The website also points out that Iron Man 3, Monsters University, and Oz the Great and Powerful have earned a staggering $2 billion worldwide. These numbers don’t include the serious cash the studio will earn from home video and various tie-ins.

All of this business will certainly help Disney recover from its recent box office disaster. Director Gore Verbinski’s adaptation of the TV western is expected to lose around $190 million when all is said and done. This is just $10 million less than the studio’s 2012 flop John Carter.

Are you surprised that Disney has already crossed the $1 billion mark at the domestic box office?

[Top Image via Buena Vista / Walt Disney Pictures]