‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Breaks Chinese Box Office Record, Is Probably

With another $41.6 million, ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ climbed up to a domestic total of $812 million.

China helped the seventh installment of the four-decade-old epic gross an estimated $145.9 million globally over the weekend and $1.7 billion since the science-fiction movie was first released four weeks ago, according to a statement from Disney on Sunday.

Promotional events organized by Disney in the months leading up to the release included the placing of 500 Stormtrooper figures on the steps of the Great Wall and the illumination of the movie’s Chinese title on the guard towers for a light show in October.

Other top opening-day grosses in China include Avengers: Age of Ultron ($29.2 million), Transformers: Age of Extinction ($27.4 million) and Terminator: Genisys ($26.7 million).

Fans were quick to point out how Episode VII shares many plot points with the original Star Wars film, later dubbed A New Hope – a criticism director JJ Abrams is well aware of.

“[We’re] just starting work on ‘Star Wars VIII, ‘ the next film, so I’m back to keeping secrets again”, Boyega said in the interview.

In North America, the film made an estimated $41.6 million this weekend. The film now has in its sights No. 2 Titanic, with its $US2.2 billion box office haul in 1997-98, and No. 1 Avatar, from 2009-2010 at $US2.8 billion. Against a $10 million production budget the movie is already a financial success. It earned $13.1 million in 2,451 theaters, which was a little more than expected, but it only earned a C on Cinemascore.

Third place went to Will Ferrell comedy Daddy’s Home, followed by horror movie The Forest and the Tina Fey and Amy Poehler vehicle Sisters.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip was down three spots to #8 in its fourth weekend, bringing in $5.5 million. “Quo Vado?” $11.5 million. 7. Despite the challenges, the film exceeded projections, which had it opening to around 20 million.

Next weekend should see the end of Star Wars’ reign at the top as Ice Cube and Kevin Hart invade with Ride Along 2.

Results in the world’s most populous nation were mixed, especially since studio Disney needs a huge return at the globe’s second largest box office if it is to challenge Avatar’s $2.78bn from 2009/2010.