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'Force Awakens' becomes fastest movie to $1 billion

Posted December 27, 2015 10:00 pm

By SANDY COHEN

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" has reached $1 billion at the box office. The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES - "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" has reached $1 billion at the box office, achieving the milestone with record-setting hyper speed.

The Walt Disney Co. said "The Force Awakens" crossed the billion-dollar mark Sunday, accomplishing the feat in just 12 days. The previous movie to reach $1 billion the fastest was Universal's "Jurassic World," which did it in 13 days in June. "Jurassic World" also had the benefit of record grosses in China. "The Force Awakens" doesn't open in the world's second-largest movie market until Jan. 9.

J.J. Abrams' installment of "Star Wars" also posted the biggest Christmas Day box office in history with $49.3 million and the best second-weekend earnings with $153.5 million.

"The Force Awakens" has been setting records since its debut Dec. 17. It brought in a galactic $238 million in North America over its opening weekend, besting previous record-setter "Jurassic World," and set international opening-weekend records in Australia, New Zealand and throughout Europe. It scored the biggest worldwide debut with $529 million. It also topped $100 million in IMAX screenings in 10 days, another global record.

"You almost have to rewrite all the record books for this movie," box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian of Rentrak said. "It's absolutely mind-blowing that 'Star Wars' could get to a billion dollars in 12 days and it hasn't even opened in China, the second biggest movie market in the world."

The power of "Star Wars" meant the rest of the week's releases were competing for second place. That prize went to the Paramount comedy "Daddy's Home," which opened with $38.8 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. David O. Russell's new drama starring Jennifer Lawrence, "Joy," debuted in third place with $17.5 million.

A flurry of new films also opened in the top 10 this weekend. "Concussion," the Will Smith-NFL drama, took in $11 million, good for sixth place, followed by the financial-crisis saga "The Big Short," which collected $10.5 million. The remake of "Point Break" opened with $10.2 million. And Quentin Tarantino's latest film, "The Hateful Eight," debuted in 10th place with $4.5 million.

A juggernaut like "Star Wars" empowers the entire industry, Dergarabedian said.

"It's great for the audiences, great for studios and theater owners in particular who can point to this and say the movie theater industry is as viable and relevant as it's ever been," he said.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Rentrak. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," $153.5 million ($133.3 international).

2. "Daddy's Home," $38.8 million ($4.4 million).

3. "Joy," $17.5 million ($2 million international).

4. "Sisters," $13.9 million ($300,000 international).

5. "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip," $12.7 million ($8.1 million international).

6. "Concussion," $11 million.

7. "The Big Short," $10.5 million ($1.4 million international).

8. "Point Break," $10.2 million ($2 million).

9. "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 2," $5.3 million ($6.4 million).

10. "The Hateful Eight," $4.5 million.

___

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada), according to Rentrak:

1. "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," $133.3 million.

2. "Devil and Angel," $55 million.

3. "Mojin: The Lost Legend," $44 million.

4. "Mr. Six," $27 million.

5. "The Peanuts Movie," $25 million.

6. "The Himalayas," $14.5 million.

7. "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip," $8.1 million.

8. "The Good Dinosaur," $8 million.

9. "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 2," $6.4 million.

10. "Spectre," $5.6 million.

From left, director J.J. Abrams, producer Kathleen Kennedy, actress Daisy Ridley and actor John Boyega pose with droids character BB-8 and R2-D2 on stage during the premiere of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" in Shanghai, China, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015. (Chinatopix via AP) CHINA OUT The Associated Press

This photo provided by Disney shows, R2-D2, left, and Anthony Daniels as C-3PO, in a scene from the new film, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," directed by J.J. Abrams. (David James/Disney/Copyright Lucasfilm 2015 via AP) The Associated Press

This photo provided by Twentieth Century Fox shows, Jennifer Lawrence, from left, Robert De Niro, and Edgar Ramirez, in a scene from the film, "Joy." The movie opens in U.S. theaters on Dec. 25, 2015. (Merie Weismiller Wallace/Twentieth Century Fox via AP) The Associated Press

This photo provided by courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox shows, Leonardo DiCaprio as Hugh Glass, in a scene from the film, "The Revenant," directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu. The movie opens in limited release on Dec. 25, 2015, and wider release in U.S. theaters on Jan. 8, 2016. (Courtesy Twentieth Century Fox via AP) The Associated Press

This photo provided by Columbia Pictures shows, Will Smith as Dr. Bennet Omalu, in a scene from Columbia Pictures' "Concussion." The movie releases in U.S. theaters on Dec. 25, 2015. (Melinda Sue Gordon/Columbia Pictures via AP) The Associated Press

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