Star Wars: The Force Awakens breaks $1bn box office record

Star Wars: The Force Awakens just keeps breaking those records. “The Force Awakens” doesn’t open in the world’s second-largest movie market until January 9.

Variety reports that the hugely anticipated Star Wars sequel absolutely smashed its holiday box office competition, taking in $153.5 million domestically over the holidays.

We call that an extra big Christmas present for the chuffed folk at Disney.

Speaking of the achievement, box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian of Rentrak said: “You nearly have to rewrite all the record books for this movie”.

“The Force Awakens” hit the Indian theatres on December 25.

Paramount’s “The Big Short”, which already opened in limited release, expanded nationwide this weekend and took in a solid $10.5 million.

Thus, The Force Awakens has also broken the fastest-to-$1-billion record previously held by this year’s Jurassic World, reaching the mark in only 12 days.

Among other releases, “Daddy’s Home”, a Will Ferrell-Mark Wahlberg comedy co-financed by Paramount and Red Granite Pictures, proved the strongest “Star Wars” alternative, buoyed by its status as the only family-friendly comedy. The look at a stepfather’s attempts to outshine his wife’s stud of a first husband, came in second with a strong $38.8 million from 3,271 theaters. Alcon Entertainment and DMG Entertainment financed “Point Break”.

Jeff Bock, of industry tracker Exhibitor Relations, said “The Force Awakens” is likely to dethrone James Cameron’s “Avatar” as the top-grossing film of all time in North America.

Concussion made a mostly positive critical start, but a rough opening weekend, bringing in an estimated $11 million on a $35 million budget. That’s the second best average of the year, behind only “Steve Jobs” with $130,381.