‘Star Wars’ sets North America box office record
Disney estimates ‘Force Awakens’ passed ‘Avatar’s record of $760.5M.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens is officially the king of the box office. Walt Disney Studios estimates The Force Awakens passed Avatar’s record North American box office of $760.5 million on Wednesday to claim the all-time No. 1 spot.
A Disney media release trumpeted the landmark achievement, but did not give the new record number. The Force Awakens reached $758.2 million Tuesday, right on the cusp.
The J.J. Abrams-directed film passed the mark in a breathtaking 20 days of release. Avatar set the record after 34 weeks in theaters in 2009 (earning $750 million) and a re-release in 2010 ($10.5 million).
“The breakneck pace with which The Force Awakens is hitting major box-office milestones is astonishing,” says Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Rentrak. “To have grabbed the crown for top-grossing film of all time in North America (in just under three weeks) is a testament to the incredible enthusiasm and love fans have for this already-legendary film.”
There is still a big question: Can The Force Awakens be the first film in North America to reach $1 billion?
“It will take a lot more gas in the tank to get to that mark,” says Dergarabedian.
Avatar still leads the global box office with $2.79 billion worldwide. The Force Awakens is No. 4 globally with $1.56 billion. The film opens in China on Jan. 9.