Lego Movie pushes company earnings up 11%

Danish toy maker Lego says revenue soared 11 per cent in the first six months of 2014, mostly because of the success of the Lego Movie.

The privately owned company's chief financial officer said Thursday they were thrilled by the success.

The company racked up more than $2 billion U.S. in sales during the first six months of 2014. That was slightly better than the past two quarterly sales numbers at Mattel combined, which means Lego is currently the world's biggest toy seller.

Mattel disappointed analysts last month were sales numbers dragged down by slumping sales of Barbie dolls, one of the company's key products.

Numbers from the second half of the year will be more telling, however, as that is a key season for toy sales, largely because of the holiday season.

Lego's CFO John Goodwin said: "Lego Movie products provided a significant boost to our sales during the first half of 2014." He said that support could continue in the second half of the year, when Lego Movie will be launched on DVD.

Net profit in the period was up 14 per cent compared with the first half of 2013, at 2.7 billion kroner ($480 million), on sales of 11.5 billion kroner.

Lego, which is not publicly listed, releases only half-year figures.

A sequel to the movie is in the works, slated for release in 2017.