The Walt Disney Studios celebrated the most successful year in its history as audiences around the world responded enthusiastically to such popular franchises as Pirates of the Caribbean, Cars and High School Musical, along with a wide variety of entertainment featuring classic characters and exciting original productions. The Studios continued to pioneer new forms of digital cinema and electronic distribution and embraced the latest technological advancements, including Blu-ray™ as the Company's new standard for highdefinition home entertainment viewing.
Walt Disney Pictures' phenomenal Pirates adventure continued to show its seaworthy legs across the entire entertainment spectrum as Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End became the year's top-grossing film at the worldwide box office. The film shattered records with $405 million in the first six days of global release and went on to finish its run with close to $960 million in box office receipts, becoming the fifth biggest worldwide release of all time.
Animation continued to be a vital part of Disney's box office success as the Studios scored a hit with Pixar Animation Studios' computer-animated marvel, Ratatouille. From Oscar®-winning director Brad Bird, this highly acclaimed film grossed more than $600 million at the worldwide box office.
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment had many top-selling DVD titles in 2007, including Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Ratatouille and Wild Hogs. The popularity of classic Disney animated feature titles, meticulously restored for the limited-edition Platinum DVD series, continued to grow with releases of Peter Pan and The Jungle Book.
Moviegoers went hog wild for Touchstone Pictures' comedy Wild Hogs, which posted a worldwide gross of $253 million. John Travolta, Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence and William H. Macy will return to the open road in the film's sequel, which is set to arrive in theaters in 2009.
The Studios concluded their stellar box office year with a pair of hit Disney films - Enchanted and National Treasure: Book of Secrets. Enchanted lived up to its name with impressive worldwide box office grosses. The film brought Disney magic to moviegoers of all ages with memorable new songs by the award-winning team of Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, an inventive blend of live action and animation, and memorable performances by Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey and Oscar®-winner Susan Sarandon. The latest history-inspired adventure in the National Treasure franchise opened December 21 with golden box office results and audience response.
Top: Pixar's Ratatouille had the recipe for success at the worldwide box office and on DVD.
Middle: Amy Adams stars in the newest classic and comedic Disney fairy tale, Enchanted.
Bottom: Oscar©-winner Nicolas Cage returned, alongside fellow Oscar luminary Helen Mirren, in National Treasure: Book of Secrets.
