JANUARY 9 UPDATE: Disney executives issued early estimates on Saturday in what they said would be a record opening day in the territory for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

According to early projections the film is headed for a $33m opening day, the highest ever in the market for Disney as well as the highest Saturday opening day in industry history.

So far Chinese authorities have not issued official reporting. Disney will provide a full weekend estimate on Sunday.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens stood at $1.592bn worldwide as of Friday as Disney/Lucasfilm executives anticipated the Chinese debut.

The studio has targeted a fourth consecutive weekend atop global box office and should get its wish with robust worldwide holds likely to be the order of the day. The international running total stood at $821.3m by Friday and North America has generated $770.4m.

The space opera has amassed $152m in the UK, $88m in Germany, $72.4m in France, $59.7m in Japan, $54.9m in Australia, $29.7m in Spain and $26.4m in Italy.

Mexico has generated $25.4m, Russia $24.3m, South Korea $23.5m, Brazil $23.1m, Sweden $16.6m and Poland $13.7m.

Pixar’s The Good Dinosaur has grossed $135.5m and opens this weekend in Brazil, South Korea and Sweden among others.

Meanwhile The Weinstein Company said that Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight has grossed an early $2m internationally, of which $890,000 came from the opening day in France and $620,000 in Brazil.

The film arrives this weekend in the UK and South Korea among others and Spain next weekend.

Fox International debuts Joy in Spain and Mexico While The Revenant opens in Australia and Russia.

Universal Pictures International opens The Danish Girl in Germany, Sisters in Australia and Taiwan and Crimson Peak in Japan.

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