HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 21, 2015 (Gephardt Daily) — Disney executives are celebrating as “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” walks away with an estimated $0.5 billion in worldwide ticket sales.
The newest “Star Wars” film took in an estimated $238 million its first three days domestically (including $57 million in Thursday night “previews”). Add that to its $279 million taken in internationally for a total sum of a $517 million worldwide opening, blasting the domestic box office opening weekend record of $208.8 million set by “Jurassic World” earlier this year.
But wait, that’s not all!
In just its first real day of release, “The Force Awakens” brought in an estimated $120.5 million, setting a new record for the largest Friday, opening day and single day.
That opening day was also enough to break the previous December opening weekend record of $84.62 million, set by “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” in 2012.
According to Box Office Mojo, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” now holds the following domestic records:
- Largest Thursday Previews: $57 million*
Previous Record: $43.5 million (“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2”) - Largest Friday, Opening Day, Single Day: $120.5 million (estimated)
Previous Record: $91 million (“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2”) - Domestic Opening Weekend: $238 million (estimate)
Previous Record: $208.8 million (“Jurassic World”) - Highest Per Theater Average (Wide Opening): $57,571 (estimate)
Previous Record: $48,855 / 4,274 theaters (“Jurassic World”) - Top Opening Weekend for PG-13 Rated Film: $238 million (estimate)
Previous Record: $208.8 million (“Jurassic World”) - Top Holiday Opening Weekend**: $238 million (estimate)
Previous Record: $158 million (“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”) - Biggest Weekend Overall (Top 12 Gross): $294.5 million
Previous Record: $266 million (June 12-14, 2015) - Biggest December Weekend (Top 12 Gross): $294.5 million
Previous Record: $259.9 million (Dec 25-27, 2009) - December Single Day: $120.5 million (estimated)
Previous Record: $37.13 million (“The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey”) - Widest December Opening: 4,134 theaters
Previous Record: 4,045 theaters (“The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey”) - December Opening Weekend: $238 million (estimate)
Previous Record: $84.62 million (“The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey”) - Fastest to $100 Million: 1 Day
Previous Record: 2 Days (“Jurassic World”) - Global IMAX Opening Record: $48 million
Previous Record: $44.1 million (“Jurassic World”) - Domestic IMAX Opening Record: $30.1 million
Previous Record: $20.9 million (“Jurassic World”)* “The Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2” record included midnight only screenings while “Force Awakens” screenings began at 7 PM on Thursday and included “Star Wars” marathon ticket sales, tickets that were sold for as much as $59.99 each.** Holiday is defined as the first Friday in November through New Year’s week or weekend.Box Office Mojo reports, that based on averages over the past couple of years, a 3-3.5 multiplier doesn’t seem out of the realm of possibility, which would put the domestic run somewhere around $714-833 million.
Photo Courtesy Disney Lucasfilm The film’s international opening wasn’t short on records either as it included the largest opening weekends of all-time in the UK (4-day), Australia, Russia, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Austria, Poland (3-day), Denmark (5-day), Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Croatia, Ukraine, Iceland, Serbia, New Zealand. Second biggest opening weekend in France, Belgium, Israel and Chile.
The top grossing territories were the UK ($48.9M), Germany ($27.3M), France ($22.7M), Australia ($18.9M) and Japan ($13.5M).
The top 5 films for the weekend domestically are:
1. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” $238Z million
2. “Alvin and the Chipmunks: Road Chip” $14.4 million
3. “Sisters” $13.4 million
4. “Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2” $ 5.6 million, $254.4 million US Total
5. “Creed” $ 5 million, $87.9 million US Total
