`Star Wars’ Generates $53 Million in Opening Weekend in China

“So I’m just so happy that all the work everyone did, even people you don’t see in the movie – puppeteers who were painted out, I’d watched them in 125-degree heat in Abu Dhabi bring BB-8 to life – I’m just so glad people get to see all the work this awesome cast and crew did”.

“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” opened in China to record ticket sales.

Not many Chinese are familiar with “Star Wars”.

In North America, the film made an estimated $41.6 million this weekend. It is the 1st movie ever to reach this milestone domestically. For a film plagued with production problems, which saw the budget bloom to $135 million, 20th Century Fox has to be pleased with its performance.

For Disney, which bought the “Star Wars” franchise from George Lucas in 2012, its latest blockbuster has been a particularsuccess at home. The movie released in the US on December 18, 2015. The additional $15 million brings its domestic total up to a strong $116.3 million. Overseas, it grossed $4.6-M from 24 markets for a foreign take of $9.7-M and early global box office take of $52.6-M. Its $38 million was still a strong opening for the month of January.

The Revenant stars Tom Hardy alongside Leonardo DiCaprio as a frontiersman named Hugh Glass on a fur trading expedition in the 1800s trying to survive after being mauled by a bear. “Quentin Tarantino’s ‘The Hateful Eight” dropped a steep 60% from its wide release bow despite adding 464 theaters.

Analysts correctly predicted Star Wars would be able to edge out The Revenant for first place.

Joy was down three spots to #9 in its third weekend with $4.5 million. The movie opens in US theaters on January 8, 2016. The movie has proven to be Disney’s most successful picture to date. This is the third-highest single-day gross in Chinese history, behind Avengers: Age of Ultron ($33 million) and Furious 7 opening day total of $68 million. The film should end its domestic run with $85 million to $90 million. The comedy-drama about the housing bubble collapse was steady at #7 once again with $6.3 million, off just 30% from last week for the best hold in the top ten.

But internationally, it still has a long way to go to beat “Avatar”, James Cameron’s science-fiction movie with blue aliens.