香蕉视频直播淪tar Wars: The Last Jedi香蕉视频直播� rocketed to a debut of $220 million at the North American box office, landing the second-best opening ever and slotting in behind only its predecessor, 香蕉视频直播淭he Force Awakens,香蕉视频直播� according to studio estimates Sunday.

The Disney blockbuster became just the fourth film to open above $200 million domestically. Aside from 香蕉视频直播淭he Force Awakens香蕉视频直播� ($248.8 million), the others are 香蕉视频直播淭he Avengers香蕉视频直播� ($207.4 million) and 香蕉视频直播淛urassic World香蕉视频直播� ($208.8 million). Accounting for inflation, the debut of 2012香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播淭he Avengers香蕉视频直播� would rank just ahead of 香蕉视频直播淭he Last Jedi.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淭he Last Jedi香蕉视频直播� is off to a similar start overseas, too, with $230 million in international ticket sales, said Disney. That brings its three-day global haul to $450 million.

As anticipated, 香蕉视频直播淭he Last Jedi香蕉视频直播� fell shy of the opening weekend for J.J. Abrams香蕉视频直播� 2015 franchise reboot, which eventually grossed $2.1 billion worldwide. But the massive debut not only puts 香蕉视频直播淭he Last Jedi香蕉视频直播� in the record books, it singlehandedly brightens what has been a disappointing year for Hollywood. The weekend was far and away the highest grossing of the year.

The opening also gave the Walt Disney Co. the opportunity to flex its muscles on the heels of its deal announced Thursday to purchase 21st Century Fox for $52.4 billion. As part of the acquisition, Disney will take control of 20th Century Fox, one of Hollywood香蕉视频直播檚 six major studios.

Fox, as it happens, was the only studio to open another new wide-release film against 香蕉视频直播淭he Last Jedi.香蕉视频直播� Its family film, 香蕉视频直播淔erdinand,香蕉视频直播� was essentially stampeded by 香蕉视频直播淭he Last Jedi,香蕉视频直播� grossing $13.3 million. 香蕉视频直播淔erdinand香蕉视频直播� and other upcoming releases will look for more room in the coming weeks, once the 香蕉视频直播淪tar Wars香蕉视频直播� tsunami has waned.

While Abrams香蕉视频直播� reboot capitalized on a decade香蕉视频直播檚 hiatus for 香蕉视频直播淪tar Wars,香蕉视频直播� Rian Johnson香蕉视频直播檚 sequel didn香蕉视频直播檛 have the same luxury of freshness. It follows not only 香蕉视频直播淭he Force Awakens,香蕉视频直播� but last year香蕉视频直播檚 spinoff, 香蕉视频直播淩ogue One.香蕉视频直播� That release opened with $155.1 million, and ultimately took in a little more than $1 billion globally.

Johnson instead aimed to distinguish 香蕉视频直播淭he Last Jedi香蕉视频直播� by introducing some new tones to George Lucas香蕉视频直播� space opera. 香蕉视频直播淭he Last Jedi香蕉视频直播� is more irreverent than previous chapters.

The plan has seemed to work. Critics gave Johnson香蕉视频直播檚 film a 93 per cent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences endorsed it, too, with an A CinemaScore.

Signalling its faith in Johnson香蕉视频直播檚 course for 香蕉视频直播淪tar Wars,香蕉视频直播� Lucasfilm earlier announced that Johnson is developing another trilogy for the franchise, the first of which he香蕉视频直播檒l write and direct. Abrams is set to return to direct Episode IX after he was brought in to replace Colin Trevorrow.

Jake Coyle, The Associated Press

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