The droids R2-D2 and C-3PO have been in all six movies of the Star Wars saga and return in the latest instalment 'Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith'. - CONTRIBUTED
(REUTERS):
THE FINAL instalment of George Lucas' Star Wars series grossed about US$108.5 million during its first weekend of release across North America, the second-best three-day opening of all time, according to studio estimates issued yesterday.
The record is held by Spider-Man, which opened to almost US$115 million in 2002. Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith narrowly edged Shrek 2, which bowed with US$108 million in 2004. Final data will be released today.
Since its release after midnight on Thursday, the Star Wars film has sold US$158.5 million worth of tickets in the United States and Canada. It was released by Twentieth Century Fox, a unit of News Corp.
The final chapter in the Star Wars movie saga also grossed a record US$50 million from its first 24 hours in North American theatres, the highest box office tally ever for a single day.
30 YEARS LATER
Nearly 30 years after George Lucas revolutionised cinema with his original sci-fi tale of good vs. evil in a galaxy far, far away, the concluding instalment 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 theatres, Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith generated US$16.5 million in ticket sales from sold-out debut midnight showings packed with costumed fans and went on to accumulate US$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 US$40.4 million and the US$44.8 million single-day benchmark Shrek 2 grossed a year ago in its fourth day of release.
Box office listings
1. Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith US$108,500,000
2. Monster-in-Law US$14,350,000
3. Kicking and Screaming US$10,531,000
4. Crash US$5,500,000
5. Unleashed US$3,841,000
6. Kingdom of Heaven US$3,350,000
7. House of Wax US$3,159,000
8. The Interpreter US$2,802,000 $
9. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy US$2,006,000
10. Mindhunters US$909,000
