Bypassing traditional media outlets, pirates downloaded their favourite movies by the millions in 2012.

Torrent Freak has listed the most pirated movies of the year, which saw teen flick Project X at the top of the list.

The film had a simple premise - a trio of teenage boys who throw a party that escalates out of control.

According to Torrent Freak, it was downloaded 8.72 million times, taking the top spot over Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol, The Dark Knight Rises, The Avengers, and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.

Perhaps reflecting its high number of downloads, Project X was not a money maker.

It was the lowest grossing movie in the top ten, with only US$100,931,865.

The highest grossing movie on the most-stolen list was the Marvel's The Avengers, at US$1,511,757,910.

Absent from the list were blockbusters The Hunger Games and the latest James Bond film Skyfall. Torrent Freak said this may be down to the Bond film only being available in a low quality release.

MOST DOWNLOADED: THE LIST

1. Project X - 8.7 million downloads
2. Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol - 8.5 million downloads
3. The Dark Knight Rises - 8.2 million downloads
4. The Avengers - 8.1 million downloads
5. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows - 7.8 million downloads
6. 21 Jump Street - 7.5 million downloads
7. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - 7.4 million downloads
8. The Dictator - 7.3 million downloads
9. Ice Age: Continental Drift -  6.9 million downloads
10. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 - 6.7 million downloads

- © Fairfax NZ News

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