Box Office: 'Star Wars: Force Awakens' Rockets to $1.16 Billion Worldwide

Fans at the premiere of ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ in China (AP)

J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: The Force Awakens is speeding towards the $600 million mark in North America after earning $31.4 million from 4,134 theaters on Monday for a domestic total of $571.4 million.

It will become only the fifth film in history to cross $600 million after The Avengers ($623.4 million), Jurassic World ($652.3 million), Titanic ($658.7 million) and Avatar ($760.5 million), not accounting for inflation. And it’s possible Force Awakens could overtake Avatar by the end of New Year’s weekend.

Worldwide, Force Awakens has cleared $1.16 billion for Disney and Lucasfilm, quickly moving up the chart of all-time top-grossing titles.

Force Awakens has smashed one record after another since its debut. Add to that list becoming the fastest film in history to cross $1 billion at the worldwide box office, a feat it accomplished on Sunday, its 12th day in release. That compares to 13 days for Jurassic World, which boasted a day-and-date opening in China. (Star Wars doesn’t open in China until Jan. 9).

Related: ’Star Wars’ Box Office: “People Are Seeing It Three and Four Times”

Elsewhere at the crowded holiday box office, Daddy’s Home remains safely at No. 2, grossing an estimated $6.5 million from 3,172 locations for an early domestic total of $45 million. The broad comedy, starring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg, is from Paramount and Red Granite Pictures.

Boosted by families, Fox’s family offering Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip moved back up the chart to No. 3, earning $3.7 million from 3,705 theaters for a North American total approaching $44 million.

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler’s R-rated comedy, Sisters, continues to thrive thanks to keen interest from females. The Universal title placed No. 4 Monday with an estimated $3 million from 2,962 locations for a total $40.4 million.

Among awards contenders opening over the year-end holidays, Fox’s Joy, directed by David O. Russell and starring Jennifer Lawrence, rounded out the top five with an estimated $2.6 million from 2,896 theaters for a cume of $19.7 million.

The Big Short, the financial dramedy directed by Adam McKay, wasn’t far behind with roughly $2 million from 1585 locations, a modest footprint. Starring Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt, The Big Short, earning $18 million to date for Paramount and New Regency, will up its theater count on Jan. 8, the weekend before Oscar nominations and the Golden Globes ceremony.

Will Smith-starrer Concussion continues to lag somewhat behind the other Christmas adult dramas, placing No. 7 with $1.7 million from 2,841 theaters for a total $12.2 million.

Point Break — Alcon Entertainment’s extreme sports extravaganza and loose remake of the 1991 cult classic, is faring dismally considering its $100 million budget. Distributed by Warner Bros., the movie came in No. 8 with $1.5 million from 2,910 locations for a total $11.3 million.

Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight and Alejandro G. Inarritu’s The Revenant continue to prosper at the specialty box office since debuting Christmas Day.