 Universal’s “Furious 7” will cross $1 billion at the worldwide box office Friday, becoming the studio’s first film to reach that milestone in its initial release. That coup let the film just squeak past the previous box office record jointly held by The Avengers, Avatar, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, which all crossed the billion-dollar mark in 19 days. The James Wan-directed film, which stars Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Paul Walker, Ludacris, Jason Statham, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, and Tyrese Gibson, hit the billion-dollar milestone in just 17 days. Cameron also holds the record for second place in box office hauls for Titanic, which took in $2.19 billion (and the hearts of all who watched). Paramount’s “Transformers: Age of Extinction” had been most recent addition to the list last year with a $1.09 billion worldwide gross, which leaves it in 10th place. On behalf of all of us, I am incredibly proud of the motion picture team at Universal, the cast and filmmakers of the FAST & FURIOUS for all they have done to take our original idea and evolve it into a huge, global, blockbuster franchise. “At Universal we have had franchises with strong results at the box office, including Jurassic Park, Despicable Me and the Bourne series, and although we take great pride in these accomplishments, what distinguishes Fast and Furious is that it is an original live action concept with an entirely diverse cast,” said Ron Meyer, vice chairman of studio parent NBCUniversal, in a congratulatory note. “It is the only franchise of its kind to reach a total of more than $3.39 billion and counting.” 
 
 Meyer also noted the unique circumstances created by star Paul Walker’s death in late 2013. “When our friend and colleague Paul Walker tragically passed away in the middle of production, our team, led by Jeff Shell and Donna Langley, and the filmmakers, along with the cast and crew, did what they do best: They focused on family first; then talked to the fans; then got to work on making a great film that we can all be proud of,” he said. “We were all saddened and honored to be a part of Paul’s final career performance and to celebrate his defining role in our lives.” 
 
 UPDATE, 10:11 p.m. — Variety’s first story said that “Furious 7” is the first Universal film to go past $1 billion. (Jurassic Park also crossed the threshold, but only after it was re-released in 3-D in 2013.)
– The elite club of movies that have grossed at least $1 billion worldwide gained a new member yesterday. Furious 7 became the 20th film to have ever passed the threshold, per BoxOfficeMojo's stats. And as Variety reports, it did so pretty fast and furiously: in a record 17 days. Though Universal has put out such successes as Jurassic Park and the Bourne series, it's the first film in the studio's 103-year history to make the list, notes Ron Meyer, the vice chairman of studio parent NBCUniversal, in a congrats letter. That list is topped by Avatar and its $2.79 billion take. All told, the Furious franchise has raked in $3.39 billion. Vanity Fair's response to the news? "The rumored Furious 8 is probably a go." (Cool side story: Fast & Furious all started thanks to a 1998 magazine article.)