Fox to $2 billion overseas in '11

Fox's 'X-Men: First Class' has grossed $208.8 million overseas.Twentieth Century Fox Intl. has crossed the $2 billion mark in overseas grosses for 2011, becoming the fourth studio to do so this year. Both Par and Warners reached the $2 billion overseas mark this year back in August; Disney did the same in September. Fox Intl. said it is the first studio to reach that milestone five individual times in a calendar year, as well as for three consecutive years. The studio has had a solid year so far internationally, with its hit "Rio" grossing $344 million, and a pair of tentpole reboots, "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" and "X-Men: First Class," seeing overseas cumes of $305.2 million and $208.8 million, respectively. Fox Intl. previously hit $2 billion in 1998, 2006, 2009 and 2010. "The fact that we have been able to sustain our success for several years demonstrates yet again what a talented, hard-working team we have, not only in our Los Angeles office but around the world," said Fox Intl. co-prexy Tomas Jegeus. The studio's upcoming year-end releases include "The Sitter," "We Bought a Zoo" and "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked," the boffo overseas franchise's third installment. On the domestic front, Universal crossed $1 billion; the studio's international arm reached that same milestone on Oct. 13. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com