Box Office: 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Shreds Records With $248 Million Debut

[JackRoss]

I'm surprised no CAC dressed up as Darth Maul didn't go on a mass shooting with a futuristic laser gun

nikka I got the bright idea to dress up by my girl..... Glad I didn't NOBODY was dressed up....... Got my Finn shyt and everything

 

[Deltron]

Hope we get some great trailers too im leaving in an hour

A few good joints coming out

 

[Hiphoplives4eva]

After this success, they might've underpaid him but he probably just wanted to get rid of it.

4 billion is more than enough. Disney simply took Star Wars to the next level with their expert marketing and access to high quality hollywood talent.

George Lucas did the right thing here. Star wars is bigger than him at this point.

 

[Rain]

Box Office: 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Shreds Records With $238 Million Debut

“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” micronized box office records this weekend, racking up a monumental $238 million opening and justifying the Walt Disney Company’s $4 billion purchase of LucasFilm.

That 2012 acquisition was intended to launch a cinematic universe set in a galaxy far, far away: a series of interconnected sequels, spin-offs, and prequels that would serve as a filmic parallel to Disney’s Marvel Comics-inspired adventures.

J.J. Abrams’ nostalgic take on the series of space operas George Lucas created four decades ago was a hit with critics and fans, earning strong reviews and an A CinemaScore. Its opening soared past the previous high-water mark of $208.8 million established last summer by “Jurassic World.” It more than doubles “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’s” December record debut of $84.6 million.

Globally, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” scored the second biggest opening in history, earning $517 million worldwide, behind only “Jurassic World’s” $525 million bow. Unlike “Jurassic World,” the seventh film in the “Star Wars” saga did not have the benefit of showing in China on its inaugural weekend. It opens there on Jan. 9.

“Star Wars: The Force Awakens'” dominance was a foregone conclusion. It has already shattered pre-sales records, selling more than $100 million of advance tickets. A decade separates Abrams’ film and Lucas’ poorly received (but immensely profitable) prequel films. The absence appeared to have stoked excitement and made the film’s debut a true cultural event. Scalpers sold tickets to prime showtimes, parents weaned on the “Star Wars” saga took their children to introduce a new generation to the epic push-and-pull between the Dark Side and the Light, and theaters were forced to clarify their costume policy, with many chains outlawing masks and blasters. Lightsabers were treated more leniently, but exhibitors such as AMC mandated that they be left off during showtimes.

Men made up the bulk of ticket buyers, comprising 58% of the opening weekend audience. Adults represented 71% of the crowd with families accounting for 20% of consumers. The film with its inter-galactic battles and space-hopping adventures played particularly well in premium formats — 3Dwas 47% of tickets sales, Imax accounted for 12%, and premium large formats were responsible for 7%.

A few, brave films debuted against the “Star Wars” juggernaut. Twentieth Century Fox tried to snag families with young children, offering up “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip.” The sequel to the on-going “Chipmunks” franchise earned $14.4 million from 3,653 theaters. It cost $75 million to make.

Universal fielded Tina Fey and Amy Poehler’s “Sisters,” a comedy about two siblings who have a raucous house party, to the tune of $13.4 million from 2,952 theaters. The film cost $30 million to produce.

Holdovers “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2” and “Creed” rounded out the top five, earning $5.6 million and $5.1 million, respectively. “The Hunger Games” sequel has generated $254.4 million and the “Rocky” spin-off has made $87.9 million.

In the Oscar contender field, Paramount held “The Big Short” steady in eight theaters, making $350,000. The financial crisis comedy has earned $1.3 million since debuting last weekend. It expands nationally on Dec. 23.

Sony Pictures Classics’ “Son of Saul” bowed to $38,891 from three theaters, for a per-screen average of $12,964. The Holocaust drama from Hungarian filmmaker Laszlo Nemees is viewed as a liked Best Foreign Film Academy Award nominee.

 

[Artificial Intelligence]

.......................

 

[Rain]

Deadline is saying it's higher. 241-246M

'Force Awakens' Rises On Saturday Night; Opening Weekend Record Now At $241M-$246M - Sunday AM Update

11th UPDATE, Sunday AM: Refresh for updates

As we saw last night, Disney’sStar Wars: The Force Awakens is back in the upper echelon of its projections with an opening weekend of $241M-$246M per industry calculations. Disney is calling the weekend this morning at $238M, but others are telling us it’s much higher than that. As we always knew and saw, everyone can just say goodbye to the all-time domestic debut record that Jurassic World set back in June with $208.8M. Industry calculations show $69.1M for Saturday, while Disney reports $68.7M. Saturday was a steeper drop from Friday for Force Awakens at -43% than Jurassic World‘s -15% slip between those two days, but one needs to take into account how front-loaded the J.J. Abrams title was. Non-Disney sources are projecting a 20% slide between Saturday and Sunday, but at this momentum and whenever grosses are this high, the feeling is that Force Awakens will continue to surprise, especially as it heads into a week where 74% of schools are off. Disney sees a 29% dip from Saturday into Sunday with today grossing $48.8M. After Thursday and Friday’s tickets sales were dictated by advance sales, Sunday will be one of those days that relies largely on walk-up business. Again, it’s just amazing to consider that this film will make more than any single Hobbit filmdid during their entire three-month-plus run in a matter of days.

This shyt still has a chance of taking Jurassic World worldwide record without China

 

[FlyRy]

So still didn't beat jurassic world Worldwide as of now.

We will know once actuals come tomorrow


"Yes, it fell a few bucks short of the Jurassic World worldwide debut record, but don’t be too surprised if Disney finds $7 million worth of Space Bucks tucked inside its couch by tomorrow."

 

[Rapmastermind]

George is getting paid off "The Force Awakens" guys. He got a writing credit on the film as well. He's the #2 shareholder behind Bill Gates Estate. So George not only got the 4 billion but with the shares he will still cake off all future Star Wars films and Mechendise. But based on the first film performance Disney knows they made a great investment. Episode VII's box office is only a surprise to people who underestimated the brand of Star Wars. It bodied "JUrassic World" surprsing Summer OW Record in the month of December. Damn. LOL @ "Hobbit" having the record at 84 Million and Star Wars made about 160 more. "Avatar" did 77 OW in Dec. All signs are pointing to #1 all Domestic. That would put 3 Star Wars films in the Top 10 grossing films of all time domestic. Irconially, all 3 films are the first film of the trilogies.

 

[Bobhoward]

We all knew this was gonna make some money but I'm still flabbergasted by those JW numbers...

 

[HipHopStan]

We all knew this was gonna make some money but I'm still flabbergasted by those JW numbers...

People love their dinosaurs.

 

[Rapmastermind]

We all knew this was gonna make some money but I'm still flabbergasted by those JW numbers...

Jurassic Park Franchise has broken the OW record 3 times. Star Wars Franchise has now broken the record 4 Times.

 

[Poetical Poltergeist]

People love their dinosaurs.

They didn't for a long time. Just perfect timing is all.

 

[HipHopStan]

They didn't for a long time. Just perfect timing is all.

I got to go back and find some of those movie lists from early this year that predicted that Jurassic World would be a financial bomb.

 

[Ed MOTHERFUCKING G]

Jurassic Park Franchise has broken the OW record 3 times. Star Wars Franchise has now broken the record 4 Times.

A kid safe movie that parents dont find a drag and know what to expect is a money factory...hard to make and when you do, you make three of them

 

[Poetical Poltergeist]

I got to go back and find some of those movie lists from early this year that predicted that Jurassic World would be a financial bomb.

Yeah I think most of us just thought it would be a run of the mill blockbuster. Maybe 200 million. But the way it performed was a surprise. Although a few on here did predict it would be huge.