 "<I>Star Wars</I> poised to become fastest film to reach $1 bn in ticket sales")
Star Wars: The Force Awakens was poised to pass $1 billion in worldwide ticket sales this weekend and become the first picture to reach that mark so quickly.
The film, which officially opened in US theaters on December 18 and in some international markets on December 16, has generated box-office revenue of $890.3 million worldwide through Christmas Day, Burbank, California-based Walt Disney Co said Saturday in a statement.
Prior to The Force Awakens, the fastest a movie crossed the $1 billion threshold was Universal Pictures' Jurassic World in 13 days this past June. The new Star Wars has already topped Jurassic World for largest opening weekend this month and looks certain to clear $1 billion by Sunday, according to Rentrak Corp, an industry researcher. On Sunday, studios will provide Saturday sales figures and full weekend estimates.
On Friday, Star Wars set a Christmas Day record in US and Canadian cinemas, with ticket sales of $49.3 million. Its worldwide total so far includes $440.4 million domestically and $449.9 million internationally.
The success of The Force Awakens, Disney's first picture since the acquisition, lays the groundwork for the company's efforts with the franchise for years to come, according to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger.
"It's bigger than big," Iger said in an interview with Bloomberg TV on December 21. "It's bigger than we thought it would be."
The film, which officially opened in US theaters on December 18 and in some international markets on December 16, has generated box-office revenue of $890.3 million worldwide through Christmas Day, Burbank, California-based Walt Disney Co said Saturday in a statement.
Prior to The Force Awakens, the fastest a movie crossed the $1 billion threshold was Universal Pictures' Jurassic World in 13 days this past June. The new Star Wars has already topped Jurassic World for largest opening weekend this month and looks certain to clear $1 billion by Sunday, according to Rentrak Corp, an industry researcher. On Sunday, studios will provide Saturday sales figures and full weekend estimates.
On Friday, Star Wars set a Christmas Day record in US and Canadian cinemas, with ticket sales of $49.3 million. Its worldwide total so far includes $440.4 million domestically and $449.9 million internationally.
The success of The Force Awakens, Disney's first picture since the acquisition, lays the groundwork for the company's efforts with the franchise for years to come, according to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger.
"It's bigger than big," Iger said in an interview with Bloomberg TV on December 21. "It's bigger than we thought it would be."