Monumental $238M debut for “Star Wars”

“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” micronized box office records this weekend, racking up a monumental $238 million opening and justifying the Walt Disney Company's $4 billion purchase of Lucasfilm.

Director JJ Abrams' nostalgic take on the series of space operas George Lucas created four decades ago was a hit with critics and fans, earning strong reviews. Its opening soared past the previous high-water mark of $208.8 million established last summer by “Jurassic World”.

Globally, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” scored the second-biggest opening in history, earning $517 million worldwide, behind only “Jurassic World's” $525 million bow. However, unlike “Jurassic World,” the seventh film in the “Star Wars” franchise did not have the benefit of showing in China on its inaugural weekend.

The success of “Star Wars” enabled the industry to reach a new high-water mark for a weekend, with total receipts passing the $300 million barrier for the first time in history.