21st Century Fox profits rise on strong film earnings

21st Century Fox's adaptation of John Green's best-selling novel The Fault in Our Stars was a hit

Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox reported profits of $999m (£624m) in the third quarter, buoyed by strong earnings in its film and cable television units.

The company also said revenue rose to $8.42bn, a 17% increase from the same period last year.

Fox was helped by the success of the films X-Men: Days of Future Past, Rio 2, and The Fault in Our Stars.

Shares in the company rose 2% in after-hours trading.

"As we close the fiscal year, I continue to have confidence in our ability to execute our growth plan and drive value for our shareholders," said Mr Murdoch in a statement accompanying earnings.