This photo provided by Disney/Lucasfilm shows a scene from the new film, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”.
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That means it could take in more than $200 million worth of business on its opening weekend – breaking the record set in June by “Jurassic World” with $208.4 million.
Disney gushed that combined with Friday figures, ticket sales “are pointing to a total day of $100M+ for a new industry record… and the first triple-digit-million day ever!”
J.J. Abrams’ seventh chapter in George Lucas’s space saga arrived with the kind of hoopla and anticipation that few films have ever matched.
To be fair, “Deathly Hallows: Part 2” began its preview showings at Midnight while “Force Awakens” kicked off its USA debut at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday night. The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of Lucasfilm and ABC11.
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).
The latest film in the “Star Wars” franchise stars veterans Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, along with newcomers Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis and Domhnall Gleeson. Disney, which paid more than $4 billion for Lucasfilm in 2009, had been downplaying expectations, but rival studios and industry analysts believe that “The Force Awakens” will open to $210 million or more.
“The Force Awakens” picks up the intergalactic story of good versus evil 30 years on from “The Return of the Jedi”, the finale of the original trilogy.
The film is playing at a total of 4,134 North American locations.
“Clearly, this is not the most important event that’s taking place in the White House today”, Obama deadpanned, after taking the lectern in the crowded briefing room. “I’ve got to get to Star Wars”.
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With the opening act complete, the real stars of the show took the stage next to press secretary Josh Earnest – a pair of Storm Troopers and R2D2.
