‘Last Jedi’ ranks second all-time for domestic opening

“Star Wars” is celebrating its 40th birthday this year by proving one truth: It refuses to weaken as a commercial force.

Five years ago, Disney acquired Lucasfilm for $4 billion. Now, judging by the massive opening of “The Last Jedi,” Disney will soon pass that total from the first three “Star Wars” releases alone since the 2012 deal was struck. The eighth episode in the “Star Wars” saga powered its way to a $220 million domestic debut, according to studio estimates Sunday. The only movie ever to open bigger, before adjusting for inflation, is the series’ previous film. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” which jump-started the main franchise in 2015 after a decade of dormancy, had a North American opening of $247.9 million.

“The Force Awakens” went on to gross more than $2 billion worldwide — the only film not directed by James Cameron to do so. After a single weekend, “The Last Jedi” has already grossed $450 million worldwide. And last year’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” a spinoff from the main saga, grossed $1.05 billion globally.

Domestically, the only other films to open above the $200 million mark (before inflation adjustment) are Universal’s “Jurassic World” ($208.8 million two years ago), and Disney’s “The Avengers” ($207.4 million) in 2012. Thanks to “Last Jedi,” Disney now owns seven of the eight biggest domestic debuts ever. “Last Jedi” also recorded the second-biggest opening day ever, with $104.7 million Friday — trailing only the $119.1 million tally for “Force Awakens.”

Part of the appeal of “The Last Jedi” is seeing Mark Hamill’s full return to the Luke Skywalker role, as well as the last central appearance of Leia as portrayed by Carrie Fisher, who died last December after completing her performance. Luke and Leia are both spotlighted in especially dramatic scenes in “Last Jedi,” in which the young warrior Rey (Daisy Ridley) seeks Jedi training as Poe (Oscar Isaac), Finn (John Boyega) and Rose (Kelly Marie Tran) help the Resistance try to hold off the First Order as led by Snoke (Andy Serkis) and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver).