'Ice Age' helps Fox top $1B overseas

LOS ANGELES, July 11 (UPI) -- "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" pushed 20th Century Fox past $1 billion in 2009 foreign box office revenue, the studio said.

Tomas Jegeus, international distribution co-president for Fox, said the newest installment of the "Ice Age" animated movie series opened to initial overseas earnings of $151.7 million in 101 territories. That enabled the studio to become the first to pass the $1 billion mark this year, he said.

"This sensational achievement is a tribute not only to Fox's outstanding product but also to the efforts and creativity of our international team, both in Los Angeles and overseas," Jegeus said in a statement.

The studio said the movie was the highest-grossing animated opening ever and the sixth highest-grossing opening weekend of all time internationally. The movie broke industry records in many local markets and was the highest-grossing 3D film ever overseas.

"Ice Age" also posted top opening weekend earnings for an animated film in Austria, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Mexico, Peru and Russia.