The Harry Potter film holds the all-time record for opening day at $91 million, but the new Star Wars is expected to also force it out of that slot. Rival studios had been projecting an opening weekend above $250 million since midday Friday, but Disney has opted for a cautious outlook, asserting in the early afternoon that the seventh Star Wars movie would top $200 million and then pushing that to $215 million in the late afternoon.
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Star Wars: The Force Awakens is finally here, and considering what critics and audiences are saying about the film, it looks like the iconic franchise is back. The Force Awakens shattered its first record with advanced ticket sales, reportedly selling eight times as many tickets than the previous record holder, The Hunger Games, to the tune of million.
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The early figures suggest “The Force Awakens” is on course to exceed the record domestic opening of “Jurassic World”, which debuted with $208.8 million.
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That number blasted the record for the biggest pre-opening in box office history held by “Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2”, which made $43.5 million on its opening night in 2011.
This time of year rarely sees huge openings at the U.S. box office; rather strong multiple showings as families take a break from shopping and festivities to go the flicks.
“Abrams’ film is also smashing records overseas, where it has amassed a stunning $72.7 million in its first two days for a global tally of almost $130 million”.
Disney, which bought the rights to the Star Wars franchise from its creator Georges Lucas for $4 billion in 2012, has built up the hype around The Force Awakens, rolling out a well-orchestrated marketing campaign that has left fans wanting more.
3-D screening accounted for 47% of the night’s grosses on Thursday. The film takes place roughly 30 years after the end of Return of the Jedi.
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The latest Star Wars film may very well be the most anticipated film in the galaxy, and yet, for Disney, the stakes remain high.
