The world’s second-largest movie market with roughly 30,000 screens – the USA has roughly 40,000 – delivered almost $100 million of the $315 million worldwide haul that “Jurassic World” managed in its opening weekend overseas this summer. The film cost about $200 million to make, according to industry estimates. JJ Abrams has revealed that he initially rejected the opportunity to direct the latest instalment in the sci-fi phenomena because he thought the gig could ruin his career as a respected film director. Costumed, lightsaber-wielding fans have lined up around blocks, from Jakarta to Paris, to be among the first to see “The Force Awakens” (and hopefully avoid any spoilers from its intensely guarded plot).
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Meanwhile, The Force Awakens continues to soar at hyperdrive at the box office, and has already raked in an estimated record-breaking $250M globally since Thursday’s initial showings.
3-D and Imax screenings are helping to propel the record gross.
Another four franchise films are expected to follow “The Force Awakens” over the next four years.
As far as all-time box office sales, two films by James Cameron hold the record – “Avatar” ($2.78 billion) and “Titanic” ($2.18 billion). Instead, the intergalactic visitors were sent by Disney, and were there to celebrate a very special White House screening of the new flick for military families part of the Gold Star program.
President Barack Obama began his year-end press conference Friday by letting reporters know their meeting wouldn’t be the most important event taking place Friday.
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“Projector at Star Wars midnight 3D show at the Arclight ruined, stopped, then started again towards the end of the movie”, Erik Melendez wrote on Facebook (as quoted by THR), accompanied by the video he captured of fans in the theater yelling.
