Last month we saw a report that pegged Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi to pull in over $200 million during its theatrical debut here in the United States. But what about a global box office prediction? How much cash is Episode VIII expected to rake in for Disney during the film’s debut opening when you add up the showings across other parts of the world as well?
To that we say, how does an estimated $425 million or more sound to you?
Now that’s a lot of cheddar.
Disney and Lucasfilms’ Star Wars: The Last Jedi begins opening in select foreign markets midweek before blasting off in North America and other major territories on Friday. That excludes China, where the tentpole doesn’t roll out until Jan. 5.
By all accounts, the sequel to Star Wars: The Force Awakens should gross $425 million-plus by Sunday to secure one of the five best worldwide openings of all time, not accounting for inflation. That includes a North American take in the $200 million range, the best opening of the year so far and a feat few movies have achieved. All of Hollywood is counting on The Last Jedi to narrow the year-over gap in domestic revenue, which is currently running roughly 4 percent behind last year’s record $11.4 billion.
