Iron Man 3 tops worldwide box office in 2013

Iron Man 3 was the highest-earning film of 2013 around the world.

Iron Man 3, in which Robert Downey Jr. reprises his role as billionaire crime-fighter Tony Stark, made $1.2 billion, according to online movie tracker Box Office Mojo.

Animated comedy Despicable Me 2 came in at number two with global takings of $918 million.

In the third slot was The Hunger Games: Catching Fire which made $795 million.

According to Variety, the top 10 includes eight sequels or reboots, two original properties and three that were animated.

Gravity, Alfonso Cuaron’s 3D film about astronauts adrift in space, is at number seven having made $653 million since it was released in October.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug also made a late entry into the top 10.

The second installment in the big screen Hobbit adaptation, directed by Peter Jackson, has topped the North American box office since the film was released in mid-December.

Top 10 worldwide box office 2013:

1. Iron Man 3 – $1,215 million

2. Despicable Me 2 – $918 million

3. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire – $795 million

4. Fast & Furious 6 – $788 million

5. Monsters University – $743 million

6. Man of Steel – $662 million

7. Gravity – $653 million

8. Thor: The Dark World – $629 million

9. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug – $614 million

10. The Croods – $587 million

Source: Box Office Mojo

According to other industry statistics, the North American box office is projected to reach $10.9 billion in 2013 – representing its largest ever take, surpassing 2012’s total takings of $10.8 billion by more than $100 million.

However, the estimated number of tickets sold remains similar to last year. The National Association of Theatre Owners projects the actual number of tickets sold in 2013 will remain at 1.36 billion, the LA Times reported.

Ticket-price inflation and pricier 3D and Imax movies helped lift revenue to an all-time high even as attendance failed to match its peak, it said.