The Force is still strong at the box office, as Star Wars: The Force Awakens claimed the No. 1 spot for a fourth consecutive weekend.
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China helped the seventh installment of the four-decade-old epic gross an estimated $145.9 million globally over the weekend and more than $1.7 billion since the science-fiction movie was released four weeks ago, according to a statement from Disney on Sunday. “We’re very encouraged”, he said.
In Canada and the USA, the movie is now the biggest grossing ever and the first to surpass the $800 million mark with a current total of $812 million.
“Jurassic World” had previously been number three, with US$1.67 billion in total box office receipts, but it fell to the Star Wars onslaught. “Avatar” took in $2.8 billion after its December 2009 debut. Its place as the all-time biggest movie is by no means assured, according to Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst with Rentrak. It could get a box office bump after the Golden Globes air Sunday and after Oscar nominations are announced on Thursday. “I don’t think it’s necessarily predestined”, Dergarabedian said. Leonardo DiCaprio had a strong wide release weekend as well, with an estimated $38 million for The Revenant. Already buzzing for Oscars in categories like best director and best actor, 20th Century Foxs domestic distribution chief Chris Aronson said The Revenant surprisingly brought in mainstream audiences despite its at-times graphic material.Its very graphic, its very real, Aronson said. Nomura Holdings estimates The Force Awakens will gross as much as 1.5 billion yuan (S$326 million) in China, which would fall short of breaking records set a year ago.
J.J. Abrams says he was surprised as anyone that one of Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ lead characters, Rey, went missing from a commemorative Monopoly game. Nike slid 0.3%, after closing up 1.2%.
Daddy’s Home, the last movie of 2015 to reach $100 million, placed 3rd with $15 million for the weekend.
The Forest was not as frontloaded as most horror movies, bringing in $13 million for the weekend.
Rounding out the top five is Sisters with $7.19 million.
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“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” opened in China to record ticket sales. The film also became the fifth biggest opening of a January film, beating Zero Dark Thirty’s $24.44 million and Lone Survivor’s $37.85 million.
