'Despicable Me' reaches $500M milestone

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UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Nov. 8 (UPI) -- Hollywood's animated comedy "Despicable Me" has crossed the $500 million mark at the global box office, Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment said.

With a current domestic gross of more than $248 million, the inaugural 3D CGI feature from Universal and Illumination is second only to "Toy Story 3" in domestic gross among animated films this year, the companies said.

"We couldn't be more impressed with the movie or with the global Universal and Illumination team that has made it a certifiable blockbuster," Adam Fogelson, chairman of Universal Pictures, and Donna Langley, co-chairman of Universal, said in a joint statement Friday. "This was a mammoth effort from every division of the company, and their work resulted in the film's brilliant success. ... We look forward to a long partnership with Illumination."

"Despicable Me" is set for release on Blu-ray and DVD Dec. 14.