Star Wars global sales reach huge $US250M

So, as we go into a weekend that promises to be a big, big one for Lucasfilm, Disney, and the denizens of a galaxy far, far away, we’ll keep a running tally of the records the movie is smashing.

The U.S. total crushes the previous best that Jurassic World set this summer, of US$208.8 million (about S$294 million), plus it set the largest single-day record of US$120.5 million (S$170 million) estimated; the previous best was US$91 million (S$128 million) from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2. The newest Star Wars installment made three times as much money in two days than Fantastic Four did during the entirety of its disastrous $56 million box office run.

Disney, which bought the rights to the “Star Wars” franchise from its creator George 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. “The Force Awakens” cracked the $100 million mark less than 24 hours after it started rolling out in theatres on December 17.

Cue the Imperial March, because the new “Star Wars” is power-stepping its way into the record books with dramatic precision. The film, which carries a production cost of at least $200 million, opened in almost all other foreign markets Friday. By Disney’s estimates, “The Force Awakens” – the widest December opening ever with 4,134 theaters – blew past that number by Friday afternoon.

New offerings at the specialty box office included Sony Pictures Classics” Oscar player “Son of Saul’.

Imax and 3-D screenings are helping to propel the record gross.

Disney said 47 percent of Thursday’s domestic ticket sales came from higher-priced 3D tickets.

“The potential for “The Force Awakens” to ultimately break into the $2 billion club worldwide is certainly in the realm of possibility”, Dergarabedian said.

“The Force Awakens” picks up the intergalactic story of good versus evil 30 years on from “The Return of the Jedi”, the last episode of the original trilogy.

Such a positive reaction for “The Force Awakens” may attract the kind of repeat viewings that made James Cameron’s “Avatar” and “Titanic” the highest grossing films of all time.