Earlier this week,Star Wars: The Force AwakenspassedAvatar’s $760.5 million mark to become the highest-grossing movie of all time at the domesticbox office. This blockbuster still has some work to do before becoming the top-grossing movie globally, but this weekend, the movie passedJurassic World’s gross of $1.669 billion as the #3 movie of all time. It still has some work to do before passingTitanic($2.1 billion) andAvatar($2.7 billion) to become the highest-grossing movie of all time.
This weekend markedStar Wars: The Force Awakens' opening in China, where it set yet another record. The movie’s $52.6 million two-day China opening set a new record as the biggest Saturday/Sunday Middle Kingdom debut of all time. The movie has now earned $812 million domestically and $921.4 million internationally for a global total of $1.733 billion worldwide. The movie still has to earn another $1 billion to breakAvatar’s global record, but the movie could very well break that record if it continues to perform well both domestically and overseas.
Another reason the numbers are so impressive is its theatrical rollout is nowhere near the biggest in history.The Twilight Saga: Eclipsestill hold the record for the widest release ever, debuting in 4,468 theaters back in 2010.Star Wars: The Force Awakenshas the 33rd widest opening ever, debuting in 4,134 theaters, a theater count lower than other 2015 blockbusters such asThe Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2(4,175) andMinions(4,301).
The movie’s international tally of $921.4 million takes it pastTransformers: Age of Extinction,FrozenandMarvel’s The Avengers. The movie should also knock outAvengers: Age of Ultron($946 million) andHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2($960.5 million) this week to move up to No. 5 of all time internationally with $1B in its sights. The top four movies internationally areJurassic World($1.01 billion),Furious 7($1.1 billion),Titanic($1.5 billion) andAvatar($2.02 billion).
Star Wars: The Force Awakensfaces possibly its first true test at the box office next weekend, going up against three high-profile new releases,Ride Along 2,13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of BenghaziandNorm of the North. Do you think any of these newcomers have a shot at taking downStar Wars: The Force Awakens? Chime in with your thoughts below, and stay tuned for more updates on the movie’s box office performance.
