Latest installment in the ‘Star Wars’ saga becomes the highest grossing film of all time in the domestic market, surpassing the $760.5 million lifetime gross of ‘Avatar’ in a record-shattering 20 days of release.
This afternoon, with early box office results in, 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 in a record-shattering 20 days of release. In addition, the film crossed the $800 million mark at the international box office today.
Through Jan. 5, the film had grossed $758.2 million domestically and $799.1 million for a global total of $1,557.3 million 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 (three days), $300 million (five days), $400 million (eight 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 moviegoing weekend of all time ($313.3 million for all films, December 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, December 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)
Globally, the film posted the highest global opening weekend of all time ($528.967 million) and surpassed $1 billion in a record 12 days. It also had the biggest global IMAX debut ($48 million) and surpassed $152 million in IMAX in a record 19 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 18 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.
Source: Walt Disney Studios
Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.
