‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Crossing $2 Billion Worldwide

Dave McNary

Disney’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is expected to cross the $900 million mark at the domestic box office on Friday — extending its U.S. record over “Avatar” by $140 million.

The seventh “Star Wars” film is also set to reach $2 billion worldwide on Saturday, becoming only the third film ever to do so. It joins “Avatar” at $2.78 billion and “Titanic” at $2.19 billion.

“This is a historic moment for ‘Star Wars,’ for Lucasfilm and for Disney, and all of us here are extremely gratified to be a part of this journey with fans around the world who have made ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ such an extraordinary success,” said Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn. “The film’s achievements are truly astounding, and it’s our great honor to relaunch this cinematic galaxy not only for all the devoted decades-long fans but for a new generation who will keep the ‘Star Wars’ legacy alive for many years to come.”

The space saga set records on its opening weekend with $528.9 million worldwide and $247.9 million domestically. Its other records include:

· Biggest domestic preview gross ($57 million)

· Biggest opening day domestically ($119.1 million)

· Biggest domestic second weekend ($149.2 million)

· Biggest domestic third weekend ($90.2 million)

· Biggest opening week domestically ($390.8 million)

· Biggest opening weekend in 18 territories: U.K. (4-day), Australia, Russia, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Austria, Poland (3-day), Denmark (5-day), Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Croatia, Ukraine, Iceland, Serbia and New Zealand

· Fastest film to $1 billion globally (12 days)

· Biggest film of all time in the U.S. and the U.K.

The film stars Harrison Ford, John Boyega and Daisy Ridley. It’s directed by J.J. Abrams, written by Abrams & Lawrence Kasdan and Michael Arndt, and produced by Abrams, Kathleen Kennedy and Bryan Burk.

“Star Wars” spinoff “Rogue One” opens on Dec. 16. “Star Wars: Episode VIII,” which picks up the narrative from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” opens on Dec. 15, 2017.

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