LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” — the latest episode in the blockbuster space saga — has raked in more than $450 million worldwide since hitting theaters, Disney said Monday — a major success for the most-hyped movie of the year.
The film directed by Rian Johnson — which features the late Carrie Fisher’s final performance as Princess Leia — took in $220 million in North America, and another $230.8 million overseas, a Disney spokesman said.
It was the fifth biggest global box office debut in history, the company said.
It was also the second biggest opening in US history and in December — only behind “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” — the opener of the saga’s sequel trilogy that took $248 million on its debut weekend.
“The Last Jedi” sees the return of the characters introduced in “The Force Awakens” — with Rey (Daisy Ridley) looking to Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) to teach her about The Force.
In second place was “Ferdinand,” a computer-animated comedy about a bull with a big heart often mistaken for a dangerous beast, which took $13 million on what was also its debut weekend, according to preliminary industry figures.
The top five was rounded out by “Coco,” a colorful Pixar movie set in Mexico, feel-good film “Wonder” and Warner Bros. superhero feature “Justice League.”
Final figures from industry experts were expected later Monday.
© Agence France-Presse