A shot from the Force Awakens

HOLLYWOOD — A great Jedi master once said, “Do or do not. There is no try.” This weekend “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” did not try; it did. It answered the one question at the core of every Hollywood executive’s existence — how much money can one movie make at the North American box office on its opening weekend?

Answer, as of Monday-morning estimates: $247 million.

How big is that galactic pile of money? First, it obviously set the record for opening weekend at the domestic box office. But what’s jaw dropping is that “The Force Awakens” bested “Jurassic World’s” $208.8 million not by a nose length, but by a margin so hefty ($20 million) it would count as a successful opening for many normal-size movies.

“The Force Awakens” also obliterated “Harry Potter’s” single-day record of $91 million by a whopping 32 percent with $120.5 million. Again, even more impressive, $57 million of that came from Thursday-night previews alone. So, in half a day “The Force Awakens” did business that would count as a hit opening even by summer-blockbuster standards — in the middle of the holidays, no less. In other words, the office holiday party has nothing on Star Wars. In fact, Stars Wars’ opening weekend almost matched what the “Hunger Games” finale has made so far in its entire month-long run.

“But, but—“ you say, “total worldwide box-office number is what studios truly care about!” Yes, my young Padawan. And Star Wars posted $517 million, only the second movie to cross half-a-billion worldwide on its opening weekend. Even with a mammoth budget and marketing spend of at least $350 million, “The Force Awakens” should be in the black sometime this week. “But—”Jurassic World’s” record of $524 million still stands!” Yes, but it’s possible that once the bean-counting dust settles Monday that figure could be revised enough to give “The Force Awakens” the crown. More to the point, “Jurassic World” had the benefit of opening to $99 million in China and Star Wars doesn’t open in that crucial film market until January.

For Star Wars to come close to “Jurassic World’s” tally with that crucial handicap tells it all. And if you want the rest of the myriad ways in which The Force Awakens ionized records, Box Office Mojo can take it from here.

Source: Vanity Fair