Star Wars: The Force Awakens Becomes Highest Grossing Domestic Film Ever
As of Wednesday, Star Wars: The Force Awakens became the highest grossing film of all time in the domestic market, surpassing the $760.5 million lifetime gross of Avatar (2009) in a record-shattering twenty days of release. In addition, the film crossed the $800 million mark at the international box office. The Force Awakens still has a ways to go to topple Avatar’s overall $2.78 billion at the global box office. But, the Force appears to be strong with this film.
Globally, the film posted the highest global opening weekend of all time ($528.967 million) and surpassed $1 billion in a record twelve days. It also had the biggest global IMAX debut ($48 million) and surpassed $152 million in IMAX in a record nineteen days.
It was the highest international debut in December history with $281 million, and it remains #1 in many territories after posting the biggest opening weekend in at least eighteen major markets.
Named one of AFI’s top 10 films of 2015, Star Wars: The Force Awakens now heads into its fourth weekend of global release ahead of a debut in its final international market, China, on January 9.
Through January 5, the film had grossed $758.2 million domestically and $799.1 million for a global total of $1.5 billion since its December 16 global debut. Star Wars: The Force Awakens debuted in the US and Canada on December 18, its first two weeks pushing the domestic annual industry box office to an all-time high of $11 billion. It has set numerous individual records including:
- Fastest film to reach $100 million (21 hours), $200 million (3 days), $300 million (5 days), $400 million (8 days), $500 million (10 days), $600 million (12 days), and $700 million (16 days)
- Biggest all-time debut and biggest December debut ($247.966 million), propelling the industry to the biggest overall movie-going weekend of all time ($313.3 million for all films, Dec. 18-20)
- Biggest second weekend of all time ($149.2 million), propelling the industry to the biggest overall Christmas weekend of all time ($296.4 million for all films, Dec. 25-27)
- Biggest third weekend of all time ($90.2 million)
- Biggest Thursday preview gross ($57 million)
- Biggest Friday, opening, and single day ($119.1 million)
- Biggest Sunday ($60.55 million), Monday ($40.1 million), and Tuesday ($37.3 million)
- Biggest Christmas Day ($49.3 million) and New Year’s Day ($34.39 million)
- Highest per-theater average for a wide debut ($59,982)
- Biggest opening week ($390.85 million)
- Biggest IMAX debut ($30.1 million)
Mike Tyrkus
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