LOS ANGELES, July 11 — In just the first half of the year, three films have already hit the billion dollar mark worldwide: “Avengers 2,” “Fast & Furious 7” and “Jurassic World.” The second half of the year will feature the releases of “Mission Impossible 5,” the next James Bond adventure and the latest chapter in the “Star Wars” saga, all of which are certain to help make 2015 a record breaking year.

2015 is poised to become the most lucrative year in history for the seventh art, an opinion shared by several experts in the industry and based on the impressive box office successes of the first half of the year.

Three blockbusters have already surpassed US$1 billion (RM3.79 billion) in global box office receipts: In the spring, “Fast & Furious 7” and “Avengers: Age of Ultron” respectively grossed US$1.51 billion and US$1.38 billion, and this summer, the still in theatres “Jurassic World” has already earned US$1.41 billion, according to Box Office Mojo.

Among this year's other big money makers, “50 Shades of Grey” earned US$569 million, “American Sniper” brought in US$547 million, the live action version of “Cinderella” has generated US$539 million and “San Andreas” has been good for another US$447 million.

And that's just the first half of the year. Marvel's latest offering, “Ant-Man,” could significantly add to the pile, as could the animated film “Minions.” Next up will be the fifth installment in the “Mission Impossible” franchise, “Rogue Nation,” which will most definitely keep things rolling when it comes out in August, followed by the next chapter of the epic “Maze Runner” saga, “Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials” in October, the 2th Bond movie, “Spectre,” the finale of “Hunger Games” in November and the highly anticipated “Star Wars: the Force Awakens” in December.

Disney and Universal already have their records

For the sixth consecutive year, Disney has reached the US$3 billion mark, thanks to Marvel's “Avengers 2,” “Cinderella” and Pixar's “Inside Out.” Difference is, this year, the studio hit its mark on June 30, whereas last year it had to wait until August 4. In any case, Disney is planning on challenging for even more records come December and the release of the seventh “Star Wars” movie.

Universal has also surpassed the US$3 billion mark, for the first time in its history. Its two money makers, “Fast & Furious 7” and “Jurassic World,” remained at the top of the international box office for a total of nine weeks.

Will one of these two succeed in beating the record jointly held by Paramount and Warner, the only two studios to ever have hit US$5 billion in a year? Overall, for Hollywood to record the most successful year in its history, it'll have to beat the US$35.9 billion earned in 2013, a record which still stands thanks to a disappointing 2014 at the box office. — AFP-Relaxnews