'Star Wars' sales surge toward opening weekend record

comments     Reuters     Published     Updated

'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' hurtled toward US$125 million (about RM536 million) in US and Canadian ticket sales yesterday and a potential record-breaking US$225 million (about RM964 million) through today, giving the long-awaited movie a shot at the biggest opening weekend of all time.

The projections from Walt Disney Co late yesterday indicated the film could eclipse the US$208.8 million record set by dinosaur adventure film 'Jurassic World' in June. Disney said theatres were adding showtimes to meet "unprecedented demand".

Fans eager to see the first 'Star Wars' movie in a decade came dressed as Stormtroopers or Jedi. Ticket sales on Thursday night and yesterday surpassed previous records set by the final 'Harry Potter' film in 2011.

The movie has opened in 44 countries outside North America, earning US$72.7 million in total through Thursday.

At the White House, R2-D2 and two Stormtroopers surprised reporters with a quick appearance in the briefing room. First Lady Michelle Obama hosted a screening for children of families that lost members to war.

The new 'Star Wars' film is the seventh instalment in the series created by George Lucas in 1977. Disney bought 'Star Wars' producer Lucasfilm for US$4 billion in 2012 and spent more than US$200 million to produce 'Force Awakens'.

- Reuters



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