Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Shatters Preview Night B.O. Record With $57M, On Pace For $215M+ Weekend

The Force Awakens has shattered the box office industry’s preview night record with $57 million on Thursday night. That kicks aside the previous mark of $43.5M set by 2011’s Harry Potter And The Deathly force awakensHallows – Part 2. 3D repped 47% of Force Awakens’ grosses, with Imax generating $5.7M at 391 hubs; that’s close to double the previous preview night record set by Avengers: Age Of Ultron of $3M.

Showtimes for Force Awakens began at 7 PM whereas when Deathly Hallows Part 2 played, it started its previews at midnight. Last night’s figures will be rolled into today’s ticket sales. The next record to fall today: Star Wars will have the biggest opening single day with an estimated $110M. That would also top Deathly Hollows – Part 2, which holds the mark with $91M in its first day (including those $43.5M midnight previews). That puts Force Awakens on a pace to make $215M-$220M for the weekend, which would be another all-time record. Universal Pictures’ Jurassic World, which opened in June, currently has the record for the biggest opening weekend ever at $208.8M, surpassing Disney/Marvel’s The Avengers‘ $207.4M. Unlike other tentpoles, Force Awakens has been playing around the clock in some areas.