Box Office Milestone: 'Transformers: Age of Extinction' Hits $1 Billion Worldwide

Michael Bay's Transformers: Age of Extinction has become the second movie in the toy-to-film franchise to hit the $1 billion mark worldwide.

The Paramount tentpole reached the milestone thanks in large part to a massive showing in China, where Age of Extinction is the top-grossing title of all time, with more than $300 million in ticket sales (it's the first film to ever cross $300 million at the Chinese box office).

Age of Extinction, the fourth installment in the series, is the first film of 2014 to reach $1 billion in global ticket sales. It's done far more internationally, earning $763.8 million overseas, compared to $241.2 million domestically, a franchise low.

“Time and again, Michael has delivered pictures that audiences around the globe truly love,” said Paramount chairman and CEO Brad Grey in a statement.

“Along with the immensely talented and versatile Mark Wahlberg, the great Steven Spielberg as executive producer, and a superb cast, he created a powerful re-launch of this franchise. This tremendous accomplishment — to be the first film of 2014 to earn over $1 billion at the box office — proves once again that Michael is a world-class filmmaker at the top of his game," said Grey, whose studio last week extended and expanded its deal with Bay.

The last film, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, took in $1.12 billion globally in summer 2011. The first Transformers grossed $709 million, while sequel Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen earned $836 million.