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DECEMBER 18 UPDATE: Star Wars: The Last Jedi delivered the second highest North American debut in history on an estimated $220m as the film propelled Disney past the $2bn box office milestone for an unprecedented third consecutive year.

Lucasfilm’s latest sci-fi saga, directed by Rian Johnson and starring Daisy Ridley, Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega and Carrie Fisher, added a further $230.8m from international markets for a $450.8m worldwide launch.

The Last Jedi ranks only behind Star Wars: The Force Awakens (after that film debuted on $247.9m in December 2015) and averaged $51,987, a stunning number considering it launched in 4,232 theatres.

The tentpole grossed $104.8m including Thursday evening previews and Friday in the second highest opening day, second highest day, second highest Friday and fastest film to reach $100m – all behind The Force Awakens.

A further $64m on Saturday brought the fourth highest Saturday, while $51.3m on Sunday was good enough for the fourth highest Sunday.

Disney’s North American running total stands at approximately $2.079.4bn and global stands at $5.768.2bn. The studio holds seven of the top eight North American debuts of all time: The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi at one and two, The Avengers at four, Avengers: Age Of Ultron at five, Captain America: Civil War at six, Beauty And The Beast at seven, and Iron Man 3 at eight.

Disney also holds four of the top five debuts of 2017: The Last Jedi, Beauty And The Beast at two, Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 at five, and Thor: Ragnarok at five. For the second consecutive year, the studio launched four films on more than $100m.

Elsewhere, Fox’s animation Ferdinand – about a bull that is a lover not a fighter – arrived in second place on a predictably muted $13.4m and executives will look to a long play through the holidays. Pixar’s Coco in third place reached $150m in its fourth session, while Lionsgate’s Wonder continues a terrific run and ranks fourth on $109.3m after five.

Turning to the awards contenders in senior categories: A24’s The Disaster Artist fell four slots to number eight on $2.7m for $13m after three weekends and Lady Bird fell one slot to number 10 on $2.1m for $25.9m after seven.

Fox Searchlight’s The Shape Of Water capitalised on those seven Golden Globe nods and expanded from 41 venues to 158, climbing one place to number 12 on $1.7m for $3.6m after three; stablemate Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri fell two to number 13 on $1.6m for $21.3m after six; and Working Title’s Darkest Hour dropped one slot to number 15 via Focus Features on $847,525 for $2.3m after four.

SPC’s Call Me By Your Name ranks 17th on $1.9m after four. I, Tonya fell two places to 19 through 30WEST and Neon on $548,644 after two. The Florida Project held firm at number 28 and stands at $5.1m through A24 after 11.

Box office for the top 12 combined for $270.6m, up 255.7% on last weekend and up 23.8% on the comparable session in 2016, when Rogue One: A Star Wars Story debuted on $155.1m.

This week brings three counter-programmers as The Last Jedi will be expected to hold on to top spot heading into the holidays: Pitch Perfect 3 from Universal starring Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson; comedy Father Figures from Warner Bros starring Glenn Close, Ed Helms, Owen Wilson, Ving Rhames and J.K. Simmons; and Paramount’s satire Downsizing starring Matt Damon and Kristen Wiig.

Confirmed top 10 North America December 15-17, 2017
Film (Dist) / Conf wkd gross / Conf total to date

1 (-) Star Wars: The Last Jedi (Buena Vista) Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International $220m –

2 (-) Ferdinand (Fox) Fox International $13.4m –

3 (1) Coco (Buena Vista) Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International $9.9m $150.7m

4 (3) Wonder (Lionsgate) Lionsgate International $5.2m $109.1m

5 (2) Justice League (Warner Bros) Warner Bros Pictures International $4.3m $219.6m

6 (6) Daddy’s Home 2 (Paramount) Paramount Pictures International $3.8m $96.6m

7 (5) Thor: Rangarok (Buena Vista) Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International $3.1m $306.5m

8 (4) The Disaster Artist (A24) Warner Bros $2.7m $13m

9 (7) Murder On The Orient Express (Fox) Fox International $2.5m $97.3m

10 (9) Lady Bird (A24) Focus Features International $2.1m $25.9m

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