Star Wars overtakes Jurassic World for biggest global debut

[LOS ANGELES] The new Star Wars movie has set a global opening weekend record, smashing past the previous record holder "Jurassic World" to rake in US$529 million, Disney said on Monday.

"With final numbers now in, Star Wars: The Force Awakens rose above estimates to post an all-time industry-high US$248 million domestically plus $281 million internationally for an all-time record global debut of US$529 million since opening December 16," the company said in a statement.

It said the figure does not include box office receipts from India and Greece, where the movie opens this week or from China, the world's second biggest film market where it opens on January 9.

Jurassic World previously held the record for global launch with US$524.9 million.

"Our sole focus has been creating a film that delivers that one-of-a-kind Star Wars experience, and director J.J. Abrams, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy and the Lucasfilm team have outdone themselves," Disney chairman Alan Horn said at the weekend.

The highly anticipated seventh installment of the space saga has blazed a record-setting trail since its domestic debut last Thursday, taking the prize for highest-grossing domestic opening night with US$57 million and biggest domestic single-day sales Friday with US$120.5 million.

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2, previously held both records at US$43.5 million for an opening night and US$91 million for a first day.

As far as all-time box office sales, two films by James Cameron hold the record - Avatar (US$2.78 billion) and Titanic (US$2.18 billion).

AFP