‘Star Wars’ Debut to Reach $528 Million Worldwide, Iger Says

“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” destroyed box office records like the Death Star this weekend.

Writers of the American Guild discussed Star Wars: The Force Awakens in a post-screening question and answer session with director J.J. Abrams and co-writers Michael Arndt and Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi’s Lawrence Kasdan. It has set box office records for biggest opening in countries including the United Kingdom, Australia and Russian Federation. At the end of the movie they would have reconciled and gotten over their differences. “To all of the fans around the world who not only came out in Force to make this such an exciting and astronomical debut but who treated this film as their own and helped preserve the experience for their fellow fans by not spoiling it-thank you, we do”.

We won’t spoil any of it for you, but Colbert’s segment on what you need to know about Star Wars is brilliant and hilarious – see it below. It busted box office records on opening night with $120.5 million; the high water mark was previously held by the last Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two.

No one was immune from Star Wars mania, even the White House, where press secretary Josh Earnest, Stormtroopers and R2-D2 were seen awaiting U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is now playing at your local theater.

Both numbers shattered records “Jurassic World” set earlier this year when it premiered in June with an unexpected $208.8 million domestic opening. Some 63% of viewers were over the age of 25, Disney said, and 58 per cent were male. The film broke records for ticket presales and many theaters added additional showtimes to meet the stronger than expected demand. According to rottentomatoes.com, the film did not disappoint, with a 95% score. “Disney has rebooted the Star Wars franchise”, said Robert Marich, author of Marketing to Moviegoers.

Subway is just one of dozens of corporate sponsorships the Star Wars movie’s parent company, Disney, is partnering on.

Since acquiring creator Lucasfilm for $4 billion in 2012, Burbank, California-based Disney has expanded the Star Wars merchandise lines, produced new TV shows and mapped plans for themed lands at parks in California and Florida.

522 – Days until the release of “Star Wars: Episode VIII”, the next chapter in the “Star Wars” saga.