UPDATE 1-'Ice Age' sequel heats up worldwide box office

* New 'Ice Age' film earns $215.5 million worldwide

* Cartoon ties with 'Transformers' in North America

* 'Transformers' worldwide tally stands at $591 million

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LOS ANGELES, July 5 (Reuters) - In a rare tie, reigning champ "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" and the new cartoon "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" shared the top spot at the holiday weekend box office in North America.

According to studio estimates issued on Sunday, the movies each sold about $42.5 million worth of tickets during the three-day U.S. Independence Day holiday weekend.

But "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs," the third movie in 20th Century Fox's family franchise, was clearly the top pick on a worldwide basis. It earned $148 million from 101 foreign markets, which the News Corp (NWSA.O: Quote, Profile, Research)-owned studio said was the sixth-biggest opening overall.

Including its North American tally of $67.5 million since opening on Wednesday, the global total stands at $215.5 million.

Paramount's "Transformers" sequel earned $55 million from 62 markets during its second weekend, taking the foreign haul to $298 million. The global total stands at $591 million, taking the robot sequel past Columbia Pictures' "Angels & Demons" ($474 million) to become the biggest film of the year.