Around-the-World Roundup: 'Potter' Beats 'Transformers' to $1 Billion
Transformers: Dark of the Moon's two-week head start couldn't hold off Harry Potter's record-breaking pace: Deathly Hallows Part 2 passed $1 billion worldwide (domestic plus foreign) on Sunday, while Transformers still has a few days left before it arrives at that coveted milestone.

Deathly Hallows Part 2 hit $1 billion on its 19th day in theaters, which tied Avatar's record for fastest to reach that level. With a $1.008 billion total, Potter ranked eighth on all-time worldwide chart, ahead of The Dark Knight but behind Alice in Wonderland. With China opening next weekend, Potter's poised to ultimately take third place from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King ($1.12 billion).

Dipping 47 percent, Deathly Hallows Part 2's foreign weekend was $66.6 million from 59 markets. That brought its foreign total to $690.4 million, which ranked fifth all-time behind Avatar, Titanic, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. It's also number one all-time among Warner Bros. releases. Potter's top territory remained the United Kingdom with a $88.7 million haul, followed by Japan ($66.6 million), Germany ($61.2 million) and France ($49.8 million).

After opening domestically and in Italy last weekend, Captain America: The First Avenger rolled out in to 30 new markets and earned $49.6 million. Its highest-grossing markets were Mexico ($8.1 million) and Brazil ($7 million), both of which were new highs for the Avengers franchise. It also opened around the same level as Thor in Australia ($5.1 million), though it was much weaker in the U.K. ($4.9 million), Russia ($4.2 million) and South Korea ($2.5 million). Including its Italian grosses, Captain America has earned $54.4 million overseas.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon reached its last major market this weekend, opening to a series-best $10.7 million in Japan. A massive 82 percent of that came from 3D, indicating that Japan is one territory where 3D hasn't lost its luster. Across all of its markets, Transformers grossed $44.8 million for a $648.6 million total. Including Monday grosses, its worldwide cume passed $994 million, and it will reach $1 billion by Tuesday or Wednesday.

Cars 2 expanded in to a few significant foreign markets and grossed an estimated $30 million. It had solid starts in France ($9 million), Germany ($6.7 million) and Japan ($5.8 million), all of which were notable improvements over the original Cars. With $217.6 million in the tank so far, Cars 2 is a day away from speeding past the first Cars' $217.9 million total. That will also put it at $400 million worldwide.

Among the entrants in the domestic battle royale, The Smurfs opened to $4.1 million from seven territories. That total was driven primarily by a strong $3.55 million first place start in Spain. Cowboys & Aliens is holding off its foreign debut until next weekend, when it will reach at least 10 territories, including Russia and Australia.

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Other Notables - Weekend Gross - Gross-to-Date

Zookeeper - $7.7 - $42.1

Bad Teacher - $7.6 - $81.7

Mr. Popper's Penguins - $7.5 - $70.6

Bridesmaids - $6 - $81.9

Green Lantern - $4.9 - $40.1

Kung Fu Panda 2 - $4.5 - $447.5

Horrible Bosses - $4.3 - $13.9

Friends with Benefits - $3.7 - $3.8

Super 8 - $2.2 - $60

Rio - $2.1 - $336

Assalto Ao Banco Central - $2.1 - $6.2

Domestic Report:

It's a Draw Between 'Cowboys' & 'Smurfs'

Last Weekend:

Around-the-World Roundup: 'Potter' Still Magic Overseas



Related Stories:

'Harry Potter' Hits $900M Worldwide in Record Time

'Harry Potter' Becomes Top-Grossing Franchise

Around-the-World Roundup: 'Potter' Obliterates Foreign Records

'Potter' Targets Foreign Opening Record



Related Charts:

• 'Harry Potter' Franchise

• 2011 Worldwide Grosses

• All-Time Worldwide Grosses