The company reached the milestone on Jun 10, four days earlier than its prior record and for the fifth consecutive year.

PPI has achieved $1bn at the box office in a calendar year every year since Paramount launched its stand-alone international operation in 2007.

The news comes on the back of a number one $56m weekend overseas for Kung Fu Panda 2, which to date has amassed more than $205m. Super 8 also opened well in limited territories.

Other notable drivers for the year-to-date include Thor on $259m as the Japanese debut approaches on Jul 2. Rango took $119.5m – it opens in Japan on Oct 22 – and Little Fockers earning $105.3m of its $162.2m international total in 2011.

True Gritand No Strings Attached were strong first quarter players on $79.8m and $77.5m, respectively.

“We are enormously proud to have hit this milestone as we reach the half-year mark on the calendar,” Paramount chairman and CEO Brad Grey said. “With the continuous growth of the international market place, we remain dedicated to bringing audiences around the world a wide range of entertainment.”

Transformers: Dark Of The Moon in 3D is set to open day-and-date on Jun 29, Captain America: The First Avenger on Jul 29, Cowboys And Aliens in August, the Footloose reboot in October, Paranormal Activity 3 on Oct 21, DreamWorks Animation’s Puss In Boots and Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol in December.