“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” sets box office records with a $529,000,000 worldwide opening

Well, this won’t really surprise anybody, but Star Wars: The Force Awakens did really well this weekend. Yes, with a domestic opening at the box office of $247,000,000 (not to mention an A Cinemascore), audiences throughout the United States joined critics in worshipping this return to the Star Wars saga. Director J.J. Abrams and company recaptured what was so special about this franchise, and in turn, folks willingly forked over their money for multiple viewings of the film. I’ll finally reveal my thoughts on the movie, as well as talk a bit about where it likely will appeal to Oscar voters. So, without further delay…let’s go ahead and do it! First up, here’s just how good the film did. Right now, it’s expected to have made $247,000,000 domestically at the box office (just updated), which easily surpasses Jurassic World for the biggest opening weekend of all time stateside. A global opening of $529,000,000 also is a new record (just updated as well), surpassing the dinosaurs. For those wondering, the dinosaur flick is still tops in terms of foreign opening weekends, but not by that much, and only because China still hasn’t gotten Star Wars. It’s obviously the biggest December and Holiday Season opening as well, with the all time domestic and worldwide records definitely in jeopardy. Jurassic World will probably be beaten, with Titanic and perhaps even Avatar’s numbers set to fall as well. It won’t be easy, but if any juggernaut can do it, it’ll be Star Wars. In case you’re somehow unaware, a bit quickly on The Force Awakens. Essentially, this is the latest sequel in the epic Star Wars franchise, marking the seventh installment overall. Once again, it’s good versus evil in space, with the Empire now the First Order and the Rebel Alliance now the Resistance in an adventure set after the events of Return of the Jedi, which was Episode VI in this saga. Here, we follow a scavenger without a family name Rey (Daisy Ridley), a stormtrooper abandoning his post named Finn (John Boyega), an X-Wing pilot named Poe (Oscar Isaac), and the evil Jedi Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), with the fate of the galaxy hanging in the balance. The aforementioned Abrams co-writes with Michael Arndt and Lawrence Kasdan, while the returning players here include the big three of Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, and Mark Hamill (yes, he’s in it), along with Kenny Baker, Anthony Daniels, [...]