The Smurfs are officially the biggest movie in South Africa to date, for the year 2011.
With an astonishing R25 million grossed since its release on the 30th of September, the film is also the biggest release of all time for Sony Pictures Animation and Sony Pictures Releasing International in South Africa.
The film has surpassed franchise hits like Pirates of the Caribbean 4, Transformers 3 and Kung Fu Panda 2, to become the breakout hit of 2011.
THE SMURFS’ worldwide success sees it now hold the 49th position on the All Time International Box-Office charts, ahead of several blockbuster titles, such as TWILIGHT: ECLIPSE, TANGLED, HANCOCK, SPIDER-MAN 2, TRANSFORMERS and QUANTUM OF SOLACE.
In South Africa, The Smurfs have also just entered the Top 10 Box-Office charts of All Time at the number 10 position.
Thobashan Govindarajulu, Marketing Manager for SPRI at Ster Kinekor Entertainment says: “It is hugely rewarding to see how South Africans have embraced THE SMURFS. Its resounding success certainly makes SMURFS 2 now the most anticipated release of 2013! We’re also looking forward to the highly-entertaining release of, ARTHUR CHRISTMAS, in December which we expect will also find its way into movie-goers’ hearts.”
Sony Pictures Animation launched with the critically-acclaimed MONSTER HOUSE in September 2006 and has enjoyed growing commercial success with their subsequent releases of OPEN SEASON (November 2006), SURF’S UP (November 2007) and CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS (3D) (October 2009).
The breakout success of THE SMURFS worldwide has cemented the Studio’s reputation as a producer of quality animation content. Their next release will be the irreverent, animated Christmas comedy from the Aardman Animation team, ARTHUR CHRISTMAS, releasing 7 December 2011 in both 2D and 3D.
ARTHUR CHRISTMAS, has all the ingredients of a classic Christmas tale, introducing us to the dysfunctional Santa Claus family, an army of dedicated elves and an unlikely hero in Arthur, the kind-hearted son of Santa. It also answers the age old question of how Santa delivers millions of presents to children all over the world in one night – sleigh spaceship anyone? Arthur Christmas features the voice talents of James McAvoy and Hugh Laurie. - Ster Kinekor