BURBANK, Calif., June 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Disney's swashbuckling blockbuster, "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," from producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski, continued to rule the high seas at the box office in its second weekend of release, boosting its worldwide gross- to-date to a sensational $625.3 million, it was announced today by Mark Zoradi, president of Walt Disney Studios Marketing and Walt Disney Studios Distribution. Riding an enormous wave of success at theatres all over the world, the film added $148.6 million in its second smash weekend of release. The film already ranks as the 31st highest grossing film in industry history and the 8th film in Disney history to reach this box office level (more than any other studio).
Internationally, the film added $105.4 million to its coffers in its second weekend of release for a 12-day gross-to-date of $408.8 million. "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" now has the distinction of reaching the $400 million plateau faster than any other film ever released at the international marketplace.
On the domestic front, the latest installment in the "Pirates" trilogy added $43.2 million in its second weekend of release, and raised its cume to an impressive $216.5 million. After just two weekends of release, the film already ranks as the 57th highest grossing film of all time.
Commenting on the announcement, Zoradi said, "'Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End' is continuing to captivate and enthrall audiences all over the world and to perform like the champion that it is. Word-of-mouth continues to be fantastic and the returns at the global box office reflect the film's phenomenal popularity. We're thrilled with the film's performance so far and have high hopes for its continued success at the box office.
"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.
