Posted on 05/20/2005 2:53:40 PM PDT by GulliverSwift
LOS ANGELES — The last of the "Star Wars" movies has done what no movie in history has ever accomplished — sold $50 million worth of tickets in a single day.
"Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith" grossed $50,013,859 from showings at 3,661 theaters and more than 9,000 screens around the country Thursday, including special midnight shows, according to box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations.
That beat the one-day record set in May 2004 by "Shrek 2," which sold $44.8 million on a single Saturday — its fourth day in theaters.
The George Lucas film, which features the transformation of Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker into the evil Darth Vader, also beat the opening day record held by "Spider-Man 2," which grossed $40.4 million when it opened on a Wednesday last June.
"Fifty million is a good opening weekend, let alone a single day," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Exhibitor Relations. "This is the box-office equivalent of a 100-year flood."
It is almost assured the film will push well past the $100 million mark for its opening weekend.
The only question is — how far?
"The sky's the limit on how well this film could do," Dergarabedian said.
I'll download it tonight on alt.binaries.movies for free.
Heard the local talk-show guys talking about the underlying anti-Iraq anti-Bush message throughout the movie. Anyone know if there's any truth to that?
well good they will be able to afford my refund for the theater not having any dts,ac3 surround sound or midget making sound effects for me.
I keep hearing it and tons of vitriol from those who just take whoever's word for it without actually seeing the movie...
stuff like that makes me want to see it for myself more than anything....
I think this film may be the first billion dollar theatre flick....
They used to say the original was anti Vietnam and anti Nixon. Does it really matter?
First?
There have been 2 - at least worldwide.
I'd just watch it and find out.
I'm a big Star Wars dork and loved it. Someone else might view every film they see through a political filter. Depends on which one you are.
I don't see it passing Titanic. The teenage girls went again and again and dragged their boyfriends. I don't see the teenage guys able to force their girlfiends into seeing this again and again. Or once even.
first as in first run through the theatres in the US....that hasnt been done yet....
we will see....
I want to see the numbers coming out of this weekend first...
If it is up over 200 mil after Sunday, a billion isn't out of reach
I suppose most people would call me insane..but I'm taking my 11 year old (Birthday today) and 5 of his friends to see the movie in about an hour. Bought my tickets last week, so does that count in todays total? I'll post my thoughts if I think there is anything worth posting about. Looking forward to it, myself.
Mama
I didn't see it, but then I was busy watching Anakin's fall, the end of the Republic, the demise of the Jedi,and a few other plot twists and wrap-ups, so I might have missed it. If there's any political text, it reminded me more of Rome than anything else.
To paraphrase Freud, "Sometimes a movie is just a movie".
They'll go without 'em. Great effects, high body count, 20 minute light saber duels. Plus, Vader at the end of it. Who could ask for more.
I think you have to play it backwards!
Can't speak for the teenage girls but my husband knows he is taking me. A lot of us more mature women like Star Wars...somehow we got hooked when we were teenagers.
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