Star Wars Geeks!!!! Episode III Grosses $50 Million In 1st Day!!!

[ILS1]

Updated: 7:25 p.m. ET May 20, 2005

LOS ANGELES - The final chapter in the “Star Wars” movie saga grossed a record $50 million from its first 24 hours in North American theaters, the highest box office tally ever for a single day, 20th Century Fox said Friday.

Nearly 30 years after George Lucas revolutionized cinema with his original sci-fi tale of good vs. evil in a galaxy far, far away, the concluding installment to his double trilogy seemed firmly on course to redefine the boundaries of the Hollywood blockbuster.

Opening Thursday on some 9,400 screens in nearly 3,700 U.S. and Canadian theaters, “Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith” generated $16.5 million in ticket sales from sold-out debut midnight showings packed with costumed fans and went on to accumulate $50,013,859 in receipts by day’s end.

The unprecedented sum easily surpassed the previous opening-day box office record set last June by “Spider-Man 2” — $40.4 million — and the $44.8 million single-day benchmark “Shrek 2” grossed a year ago in its fourth day of release.

The film’s huge first day cheered Hollywood executives eager for a hit that would shake the movie industry out of a 12-week box office slump.

“We’ve never seen anything this before,” said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box office tracking service Exhibitor Relations. “This is an unprecedented achievement.”

The film benefited from generally warm reviews compared with the two previous “Star Wars” prequels, as well as massive expectations generated by its status as the grand finale to Lucas’ epic, revealing the secrets to such mythical questions as the origin of Darth Vader.

But Dergarabedian said much of the credit for the film’s stunning commercial success belonged to a shrewd marketing strategy by producers, exhibitors and the studio.

“This was a true collaboration between Lucasfilm, theater owners and (20th Century) Fox,” he told Reuters. “They made this happen. This was a carefully planned release, and everything worked perfectly.”

Advance ticket orders through online and telephone box office services were driving much of the business, with one leading outlet, Fandango, reporting sales of six tickets per second through Thursday and Friday.

At the very least, “Sith” appeared on track to eclipse the $110 million grossed by its immediate predecessor, “Episode II — Attack of the Clones,” through its first weekend three years ago and to swiftly recover the $113 million it cost to bring ”Episode III” to the screen.

“Clones,” which also opened on a Thursday, grossed $30.1 million its first day. But the first prequel in the series, “Episode I — Phantom Menace,” so far stands as the biggest box office success in the franchise, grossing more than $922 million worldwide.

Collectively, the first five “Star Wars” films have grossed $1.8 billion in the United States and Canada and a total of $3.8 billion globally.

In addition to its North American release, the film opened in about 50 other countries over Wednesday and Thursday, with worldwide distribution growing to 104 countries through the weekend, said Fox, a unit of News Corp. Ltd.

“Sith” grossed a combined overseas total of nearly $40 million in its first two days, a Fox spokesman said.

Copyright 2005 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters.




Star Wars Geeks Look Here

[AggieJohn]

well i went to see it at midnight the other night, does that make me a geek

[ILS1]

Originally posted by AggieJohn
well i went to see it at midnight the other night, does that make me a geek

The first night @ midnight?? I rest my case!!!!!

[LH Panther Mom]

Originally posted by ILS1
The first night @ midnight?? I rest my case!!!!!

LOL!!! At least my hubby admits he's a geek.

[spiveyrat]

I didn't see it at midnight, but I've already seen it twice. Yeah, I'm a Star Wars geek... What of it???

[venomous tat2]

I wasn't even close on my prediction of 22.8 million. I went to see the movie Sat nite then went home and watched Episode II
I guess I'm A Star Wars geek too I love SI-FI movies
of the outer space kind.

[LH Panther Mom]

I live in a household of Star Wars geeks. Last night, the youngest son was watching Episode II and the oldest was watching the 4th. I had to get my light saber after the oldest to turn it down when it got to be my bedtime...

[Green Ranger]

Latest I heard was that it grossed One Hundred Fifty Eight Million during this first weekend(If I am thinking right that was only in the United States). I think it was the best so far, although somewhat dark and I don't know if younger kids so good but good all the same.

[spiveyrat]

Originally posted by LH Panther Mom
I had to get my light saber after the oldest to turn it down when it got to be my bedtime...

The days of the switch from the willow tree are long gone...

[AggieJohn]

Originally posted by ILS1
The first night @ midnight?? I rest my case!!!!!

but i think moderate star wars geeks even did this.....

[spiveyrat]

Originally posted by AggieJohn
but i think moderate star wars geeks even did this.....

Yeah, my friend went and he didn't even "dress up".