Pixar Animation Studio's Cars has become only the sixth film released in 2006 to pass$200m at the international box office this week.

The film is actually the seventh film to achieve the mark duringthe year and third for distributor Buena Vista International (BVI), as Decemberholdover, The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe achieved over $200m in internationalrevenues in both 2005 and 2006. The company's other major success being the$600m plus and counting Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.

Although Ice Age: The Meltdown achieved $460m internationally earlierin the year the summer saw a crowded market in the CGI animation stakes and allare largely considered to have underperformed against initial expectations. Cars has been the clear winner, however,nearly $50m ahead of nearest rival Over The Hedge.

However, with no major territories left to open Cars is unlikely to catch the $239.2m ofPixar's Toy Story 2,which will still leave it as the lowest grossing Pixar title since 1998's ABug's Life ($200.6m). Itis also the first since Toy Story 2 to see domestic returns - where it is the second biggestfilm of the year with $244m - outperform international.