Although U.S. moviegoers have been unkind to Hollywood this year, apparently global audiences have been picking up the slack.  Paramount (NYSE:VIA) was the top dog among the studios and is estimated to pull in $3.19 billion for 2011, a company and industry record.  Warner Bros. (NYSE:TWX) and Disney (NYSE:DIS) followed in the number two and three spots.

The “big six” studios totaled $13.6 billion in offshore markets, a 7% increase from 2010 and another record-setting number.  The Hollywood Reporter quoted Warner Bros. President of International Distribution, Veronika Kwan-Rubinek, who said, “Overall, admissions in 2011 remained constant with 2010.” Kwan-Rubinek cited the popularity of 3D movies as a major driver in international success as six of the top 10 international grossing movies were presented in that format.

The big hits abroad were Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 and Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Kwan-Rubinek also commented on growth in the Chinese market. “The biggest growth story came from China, which increased more than 30% to gross nearly $2 billion for the year. China remains the biggest digital and 3D footprint outside the United States, with over 3,000 3D screens.”

Here’s how movie and movies studio stocks closed 2011:

Carmike Cinemas Inc. (NASDAQ:CKEC): CKEC shares recently traded at $6.88, up $0.04, or 0.58%. They have traded in a 52-week range of $5.14 to $8.11.

Coinstar Inc. (NASDAQ:CSTR): CSTR shares recently traded at $45.64, down $0.07, or 0.15%. They have traded in a 52-week range of $37.43 to $60.71.

DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. (NASDAQ:DWA): DWA shares recently traded at $16.59, down $0.02, or 0.12%. They have traded in a 52-week range of $16.34 to $30.73.

Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX): NFLX shares recently traded at $69.29, down $0.01, or 0.01%. They have traded in a 52-week range of $62.37 to $304.79.

News Corp. (NASDAQ:NWSA): NWSA shares recently traded at $17.84, down $0.03, or 0.17%. They have traded in a 52-week range of $13.38 to $18.35.

Cinemark Holdings Inc. (NYSE:CNK): CNK shares recently traded at $18.49, down $0.1, or 0.54%. They have traded in a 52-week range of $16.70 to $22.09.

Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:DIS): DIS shares recently traded at $37.50, down $0.21, or 0.56%. They have traded in a 52-week range of $28.19 to $44.34.

IMAX Corporation (NASDAQ:IMAX): IMAX shares recently traded at $18.33, down $0.27, or 1.45%. They have traded in a 52-week range of $12.57 to $38.00.

Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (NYSE:LGF): LGF shares recently traded at $8.32, up $0.26, or 3.23%. They have traded in a 52-week range of $5.69 to $8.87.

Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE:RGC): RGC shares recently traded at $11.94, down $0.16, or 1.32%. They have traded in a 52-week range of $11.15 to $15.07.

RealD Inc. (NYSE:RLD): RLD shares recently traded at $7.94, down $0.11, or 1.37%. They have traded in a 52-week range of $7.85 to $35.60.

Time Warner Inc. (NYSE:TWX): TWX shares recently traded at $36.14, down $0.24, or 0.66%. They have traded in a 52-week range of $27.62 to $38.62.

Viacom, Inc. (NASDAQ:VIAB): VIAB shares recently traded at $45.41, down $0.55, or 1.2%. They have traded in a 52-week range of $35.13 to $52.67.

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