'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Fails to Dethrone 'Avatar' as 'The Highest Grossing Movie of All-Time'
"Star Wars" fans waited for over a decade before the new ticket for the galaxy far, far away was made available. Yes, it took over ten years for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" to finally hit the big screens. So, how did the anticipated blockbuster film perform in the box office?
Too much was expected from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" and many thought that it would break records. However, the film fell short in taking the record that was awarded to James Cameron's film "Avatar."
"Avatar" remains to be the all-time highest grossing movie ever. This is after "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" failed to win the audience in its Chinese opening weekend. According to The Interro Bang, George Lucas' movie only grossed $52.6 million on its opening weekend in China, which means it has only grossed $1.733 billion worldwide.
Forbes reported that "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" was a monster hit in most of its territories, including America. With the film not performing well in China, it could end as the second or third-biggest movie of all time. There are chances that it will pass the $2.86 billion earned by "Titanic" with its $1.7 billion and counting earnings, but it's also possible that it won't.
Per the report, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" was falling faster in China. It earned $33 million on its opening day on Saturday but plunged 35 percent to $20.7 million on Sunday. The earnings dropped another 65 percent on Monday with only $7.2 million gross and another 17 percent on Tuesday, grossing only $6 million.
An email was sent out to the industry analyst early Sunday morning from Dominic Hougham, Disney spokesman. The Saturday's $32 million and the weekend tally were "the biggest opening Saturday of all-time as well as the highest Saturday/Sunday opening of all-time." However, beneath those figures, the film is not selling out to the new generation of Chinese movie goers, China Film Insider has learned.
"The film was, in fact, the first in recent history to open on a Saturday, so Disney's assertion it was the biggest Saturday opening of all-time should be taken in context," the report contested.
The report also stressed that the Saturday's gross of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" which is equivalent to RMB 209 million is only the sixth highest Saturday opening, trailing behind "Transformers 4" (RMB 223 million), "Furious 7" (225 million), "Mojin-The Lost Legend" (RMB 230 million), "Age of Ultron" (RMB 236 million), and "Lost In Hong Kong" (RMB 246 million).
Can "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" still beat record of "Avatar"? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.