Universal Pictures movies set new box office record in 2008

Universal Pictures said on Friday that its movies' ticket sales set a new record last year, when the entertainment industry as a whole began to feel the worst economic downturn in decades.

The studio reported global theatrical grosses totaling 2.8 billion dollars for 2008, including 1.12 billion in the U.S. and Canada, eclipsing the 2007 record of nearly 1.1 billion dollars.

Actresses (L-R) Julie Walters, Meryl Streep and Christine Baranski are shown in a scene from the film "Mamma Mia!" in this undated publicity photograph. A scene from "Wanted"

Internationally, Universal saw a significant jump in box office revenues in 2008, with a total of 1.71 billion dollars, a 66-percent increase from the 1.03 billion dollars in the previous year.

"If 2007 was a turnaround year for Universal, 2008 proved our studio's ability to consistently deliver the highest quality commercial hits," Universal Chairman Marc Shmuger and Co-Chairman David Linde said in a statement.

All numbers are estimates, and final figures are expected on Monday.

Universal released four films that grossed more than 100 million dollars in the U.S. and Canada in 2008, including "The Incredible Hulk," "Wanted," "Mamma Mia!" and "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor."

A scene from "Wanted"

"Mamma Mia!," a musical starring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan, was the studio's biggest earner of the year, making 144 million dollars domestically and 428.5 million dollars internationally.

The film is the highest grossing film ever in the United Kingdom, a record held previously by "Titanic." It was also the highest grossing film of 2008 in Austria, Greece, Hungary, Norway and Sweden.

"Doubt" leads SAG Awards race with five nominations

Miramax's period drama "Doubt" received five Screen Actors Guild Award nominations Thursday, more than any other films, for honors in the acting field presented by Hollywood's largest actors organization.

Nominations earned by "Doubt," which tells a story about a nun who confronts a priest after suspecting him of molesting a new black student, included best actress for Meryl Streep, best supporting actor for Phillip Seymour Hoffman and best ensemble cast.

Actress Meryl Streep poses at a screening of her film "Doubt" during the opening night of the AFI Fest 2008 in Hollywood, California in this Oct. 30, 2008 file photograph.

The SAG Awards have done only slightly better in predicting Oscar winners than the Golden Globe Awards, which are handed out by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, since the guild first presented the awards in 1995.

A total of 36 recipients of the SAG Awards have gone on to win Oscars since 1995, compared to 34 Golden Globe winners during the same period.

Along with "Doubt," the nominees for best ensemble cast in a motion picture were period dramas "Frost/Nixon" and "Milk," romance comedy "Slumdog Millionaire," and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," starring Brad Pitt.

Actors Brad Pitt (L) and Cate Blanchett are shown in a scene from the Paramount Pictures film "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" in this undated publicity photo released to Reuters Nov. 25, 2008.

Pitt also received a best actor nomination for his title role in "Benjamin Button," as did Richard Jenkins for "The Visitor," Frank Langella for "Frost/Nixon," and Sean Penn for "Milk."

Nominees for best actress in a motion picture included Anne Hathaway for "Rachel Getting Married," Angelina Jolie for "The Changeling," Melissa Leo for "Frozen River," Meryl Streep for "Doubt" and Kate Winslet for "Revolutionary Road."

Meanwhile, nominations for the 15th annul SAG Awards' television category were also announced by organizers at a press conference in West Hollywood. The nominations are determined by panels of more than 2,100 actors randomly selected by the guild from its 120,000 members.

This year's SAG Awards ceremony is scheduled for January 25 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Meryl Streep promotes "Mamma Mia!" in Australia

U.S. actress Meryl Streep poses with British actor Colin Firth during a media call at Sydney Opera House July 8, 2008. The actors are in Australia to promote the movie "Mamma Mia!"

U.S. actress Meryl Streep poses with British actors Colin Firth (L) and Dominic Cooper during a media call at Sydney Opera House July 8, 2008.

U.S. actress Meryl Streep poses with British actors Colin Firth (L) and Dominic Cooper during a media call at Sydney Opera House July 8, 2008.

Celebs at promotional event for "Mamma Mia!" in Berlin

Irish actor Pierce Brosnan attends a photo opportunity during a promotional event for the movie "Mamma Mia!" in a Berlin hotel July 3, 2008. The film, an adaptation of the hit ABBA musical, will have its German premiere on July 17.

Irish actor Pierce Brosnan (R) and U.S. actress Meryl Streep attend a photo opportunity during a promotional event for the movie "Mamma Mia!" in a Berlin hotel July 3, 2008. The film, an adaptation of the hit ABBA musical, will have its German premiere on July 17.

Irish actor Pierce Brosnan gestures during during a promotional event for the movie "Mamma Mia!" in a Berlin hotel July 3, 2008. The film, an adaptation of the hit ABBA musical, will have its German premiere on July 17.

U.S. Actress Amanda Seyfried attends a photo opportunity during a promotional event for the movie "Mamma Mia!" in a Berlin hotel July 3, 2008. The film, an adaptation of the hit ABBA musical, will have its German premiere on July 17.

Irish actor Pierce Brosnan (L) and U.S. actress Meryl Streep attend a photo opportunity during a promotional event for the movie "Mamma Mia!" in a Berlin hotel July 3, 2008. The film, an adaptation of the hit ABBA musical, will have its German premiere on July 17.

Irish actor Pierce Brosnan (L) and U.S. actress Meryl Streep attend a photo opportunity during a promotional event for the movie "Mamma Mia!" in a Berlin hotel July 3, 2008. The film, an adaptation of the hit ABBA musical, will have its German premiere on July 17.

U.S. actresses Meryl Streep (L) and Amanda Seyfried attend a photo opportunity during a promotional event for the movie "Mamma Mia!" in a Berlin hotel July 3, 2008. The film, an adaptation of the hit ABBA musical, will have its German premiere on July 17.

U.S. Actress Amanda Seyfried attends a photo opportunity during a promotional event for the movie "Mamma Mia!" in a Berlin hotel July 3, 2008. The film, an adaptation of the hit ABBA musical, will have its German premiere on July 17.