Star Wars has record-breaking opening night

The Force has topped Harry Potter as “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” took in $57 million in opening Thursday-night preview shows in the USA, setting its first box office record.

Cinemagoers in the United Kingdom and Ireland spent nearly £10m to watch the new Star Wars film on its first day of release – a new opening day box office record.

Truck driver Caroline Ritter, 34 and firefighter Andrew Porters, 29, are among about 100 fans who have been camped outside Hollywood’s Chinese Theatre since December 5 for the opening of The Force Awakens.

The movie’s worldwide rollout, which began Wednesday, has brought in a total of $72.7 million.

Analysts predict that the seventh instalment of the iconic space saga, which cost Disney an estimated $200 million to produce, could score the biggest opening weekend ever and could even become the biggest film of all time.

This comes months after Mr Prowse revealed how he would love to have joined the original cast, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher, in the new movie, The Force Awakens, but feared his dementia would let him down. It’s also thought that it will surpass Jurassic World’s $204.6m record for the biggest opening weekend in the US.

That film also held the one-day record of $91.1 million. Ms Ritter was walked down the aisle by another fan, dressed as Darth Vader, and a violinist played the Star Wars theme music as the couple exchanged vows. Force Awakens is expected to broaden out as the weekend unfolds.

Movie ticket websites still have plenty of available tickets if you are looking to get a last minute Star Wars fix.

Strong reviews for the film, which is set 30 years after “Return of the Jedi”, have added to the fervor for “The Force Awakens”.

Instead, movies can enjoy huge multiples over the year-end holidays, including the two top-grossing films of all time, 2009’s Avatar ($2.8 billion) and 1997’s Titanic ($2.2 billion).

Anticipation for the film has been fierce since its announcement in 2012 following Disney’s $4 billion acquisition of series creator George Lucas’ company LucasFilm.