Driven by the global success of Scooby-Doo, Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone and Ocean's Eleven, Warner Bros Pictures announced that it has passed the $1bn mark in international markets.

In the year to date, the division has taken $1.006bn at the international box office.

It is the fifth time it has passed the $1bn milestone and the third time in the last four years. The billion dollar years are 1993, 1995, 1999, 2001 and 2002.

Warner Bros. Pictures is jointly run by Veronika Kwan-Rubinek, president of international distribution, and Sue Kroll, president of international marketing. In a statement Kwan-Rubinek said: "We've had an incredible year so far, with two of the top four highest grossing films of all time from Warner Bros Pictures being released in the last 12 months [Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Ocean's Eleven]."

"As we continue to stretch our marketing muscle to create comprehensive and diversified campaigns for each film we release overseas, it makes us tremendously proud to reach this box office high water mark at this point in the year," Kroll added. "It speaks to the commitment and creativity of our teams here and abroad and to the value of our partnerships with filmmakers and talent in helping to make our campaigns work."

To date Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone has grossed $651.2m in international markets and Ocean's Eleven has taken $263.3m.