After an extraordinary record-breaking run, Warner Bros’ unexpected smash Joker is on course to cross the $1bn global box office milestone on Friday.

At time of writing, Todd Philips’ tentpole starring Oscar frontrunner Joaquin Phoenix stood at $996.7m worldwide, of which roughly 67% comes from the $680.3m international running total, and $315.7m from North America.

From the moment it premiered to rave reviews at Venice Film Festival, Joker never lost momentum. It generated the highest global and international launch for an October release on $248.2m and $152.2m, respectively, and went on to become the highest-grossing R-rated film globally.

The supervillain origins story has broken multiple territory box office records, and last weekend became the first film to rank number one in the UK for six consecutive weekends since Avatar a decade ago.

Two new wide releases go out day-and-date with North America this weekend. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International unleashes Fox’s acclaimed motor racing drama Ford v Ferrari from James Mangold starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale, and Sony Pictures Releasing International launches Charlie’s Angels starring Kristen Stewart.

Ford v Ferrari highlights for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International executives are expected to come from the UK, Germany, Australia, France, Italy, Mexico, Brazil, Spain, Argentina, India, Hong Kong, Philippines, Indonesia, Turkey and Sweden.

Charlie’s Angels opens in 27 markets including China, Australia, Russia, Brazil, and the Middle East. Sony chiefs anticipate a string of solid results given the $158.3m performance of the last iteration in 2003, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle. Available data shows that film – which featured an entirely different cast led by Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu – finished on $12.5m in Australia, and $3.3m in Russia.

Disney distribution executives reported that Terminator: Dark Fate has reached $115.8m internationally, and Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil $340.4m. Both trail their predecessors by a considerable margin: 2015 release Terminator: Genisys grossed $350.8m, and 2014’s Maleficent earned $517m.

Latest figures from Universal Pictures International indicate that Emilia Clarke rom-com Last Christmas has amassed $4.7m; The Addams Family $54.3m from Universal markets only; DreamWorks Animation and Peal Studio’s Abominable $94.2m from Universal markets only; Downton Abbey $86.8m; and The Dead Don’t Die $8m.

Paramount Pictures International opens family film Dora And The Lost City Of Gold on $56.4m in Brazil. Ang Lee’s sci-fi Gemini Man has amassed a lacklustre $87.9m and debuts in Argentina, Ecuador and Thailand, while family release Playing With Fire stands at an early $3.1m.

Sony’s Zombieland: Double Tap stands at $36.6m and ventures into South Korea and Italy this weekend, followed by Japan next week.

Warner Bros Pictures International opens mystery drama The Good Liar starring Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren in Russia and so far it has amassed $2.1m from the UK. Doctor Sleep stands at an early $23.3m, and It: Chapter Two has grossed $252.3m, some way off the 2017 original’s $372.9m final international tally.