LOS ANGELES, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- For the first time ever, four summer films crossed the $300 million-mark at the U.S. box office, making the summer 2007 film season the best on the books.
So far, "Spider-Man 3" collected $336.4 million; "Shrek the Third," $321 million; "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," $307.6 million; and "Transformers,"$303.7 million, said Rentrak, an entertainment industry information company in Portland, Ore.
Thirteen summer films, including the blockbuster four titles, passed the $100 million-mark, Variety reported Thursday.
Thanks to the box office boom, summer 2007 is turning out to be sizzling, running 10 percent ahead of last year and 6 percent ahead of 2004, the previous record-holder.
Veteran box office observers said this summer's success confirmed the theory that the theatrical marketplace is capable of expanding, despite those who say people don't much care to go to theaters anymore.
"It's proved that when you offer people great stories that also deliver state-of-the-art effects and stunts, they want to go out and experience it together," said DreamWorks Chief Executive Officer Stacey Snider, whose studio and Paramount distributed "Transformers."
