The studio’s astonishing turnaround was underlined emphatically on Thursday (20) when top brass announced that 2012 will mark the best year at the global box office in Universal’s 100-year history with theatrical grosses surpassing $2.927bn to date.

Universal broke its domestic record of $1.127bn in October and will overtake its $1.716bn international record on Dec 21.

The studio claims to be alone in having five non-franchise titles gross more than $200m at the worldwide box office and a record for the year of seven films in total crossing the threshold.

These were Ted on $502.5m, Snow White And The Huntsman on $400.8m, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax on $349.7m, Battleship $307.8m, The Bourne Legacy on $276.3m, American Reunion on $235.5m and Safe House on $209.1m.

Ted [pictured] remains the highest-grossing original R-rated comedy in history and was one of six Universal titles to open at number one this year. It also bears the distinction of being the highest-grossing comedy of the year internationally and Universal’s biggest opener in Australia and Austria.

Dr Seuss’ The Lorax from Illumination Entertainment scored the biggest three-day debut for an animation film for the year on $70.2m.

Still to come from Universal are This Is 40 from Judd Apatow and the Oscar contender Les Misérables.

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