Disney's 'Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End' Poised to Have the Biggest Opening of All Time at the Global Box Office; Film is on Track to Beat Current Industry Record of $381.7 Million

Disney's 'Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End' Poised to Have the Biggest Opening of All Time at the Global Box Office; Film is on Track to Beat Current Industry Record of $381.7 Million

BURBANK, Calif., May 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Walt Disney Pictures' blockbuster hit "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" continued on a wave of unprecedented success at the global box office over the weekend, and is poised to have the biggest worldwide opening of all time, it was announced today by Mark Zoradi, president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Marketing and Distribution.

On the domestic front, "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" will establish a new 4-day Memorial Day weekend record. The film's gross through Sunday is estimated to be $126.5 million, with the Monday holiday still to come. It is the Studio's 53rd film to reach the $100 million plateau, which is unprecedented in the industry.

At the international box office "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" is on track to gross a record-setting $205.5 million thru Sunday, and has already become the Studio's 54th release to join the $100 million club. The film has a few major markets yet to open including China and India.

Commenting on the announcement, Zoradi said, "Audiences all over the world are clearly having a blast with this latest 'Pirates' adventure and we're thrilled to report that the film is on track to have the biggest worldwide opening in movie history. From every corner of the world, the film is playing like gangbusters, and we think that this enthusiasm and good will is going to continue for a long time to come."

"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" picks up where the record- breaking 2006 smash hit left off, with our heroes Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) allied with Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) in a desperate quest to free Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) from his mind-bending trap in Davy Jones' locker. With the terrifying ghost ship, The Flying Dutchman, and its commander Davy Jones under the control of the East India Trading Company, there is havoc on the Seven Seas. Navigating through treachery, betrayal and wild waters, the heroic trio must forge their way to exotic Singapore and confront the cunning Pirate Sao Feng (Chow Yun-Fat). Now headed beyond the very ends of the earth, each must ultimately choose a side in a final titanic battle - as not only their lives and fortunes, but the entire future of the freedom-loving Pirate way hangs in the balance. The film was produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Gore Verbinski from a screenplay written by Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio.

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Source: Walt Disney Studios

CONTACT: Heidi Trotta of Walt Disney Studios, +1-818-560-7280

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Profile: International Entertainment