5.22.2005
'Star Wars' Earns Record-Breaking $158.5M
"By ALICIA CHANG, Associated Press WriterLOS ANGELES - Moviegoers have turned out in full force for the final chapter of the "Star Wars" saga, which took in $158.5 million since its opening to shatter three-day and four-day box office records.
"Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith" grossed $124.7 million from Thursday to Saturday, according to studio estimates Sunday.
"The reaction to the movie is absolutely spectacular," said Bruce Snyder, president of domestic distribution at Twentieth Century Fox.
Theater owners, studios and marketing partners were pleased to see "Star Wars" jump-start the summer movie season.
But "Star Wars" — which as sold an average of eight tickets per second online at Fandango.com — could remain at the top of the box office despite the competition.
"I think we have a shot to be No. 1 next week even with two giant pictures coming out," Snyder said.
The third and final installment in the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy chronicles the transformation of the heroic Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker into the villainous Darth Vader. Studio exit surveys showed the audience — usually dominated by men for sci-fi films — was 58 percent male and 42 percent female, with nearly half the viewers under age 25, Snyder said.
"Revenge of the Sith" is the first "Star Wars" film to earn a PG-13 rating. The first five films were rated PG. Considered by critics to be the most entertaining of the prequel trilogy, it easily outperformed "Episode I — The Phantom Menace" and "Episode II — Attack of the Clones," which grossed $64.8 million and $80 million, respectively, in their opening weekends." [Via news.yahoo.com]
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Theater owners, studios and marketing partners were pleased to see "Star Wars" jump-start the summer movie season.
But "Star Wars" — which as sold an average of eight tickets per second online at Fandango.com — could remain at the top of the box office despite the competition.
"I think we have a shot to be No. 1 next week even with two giant pictures coming out," Snyder said.
The third and final installment in the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy chronicles the transformation of the heroic Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker into the villainous Darth Vader. Studio exit surveys showed the audience — usually dominated by men for sci-fi films — was 58 percent male and 42 percent female, with nearly half the viewers under age 25, Snyder said.
"Revenge of the Sith" is the first "Star Wars" film to earn a PG-13 rating. The first five films were rated PG. Considered by critics to be the most entertaining of the prequel trilogy, it easily outperformed "Episode I — The Phantom Menace" and "Episode II — Attack of the Clones," which grossed $64.8 million and $80 million, respectively, in their opening weekends." [Via news.yahoo.com]
Big Shout To Geroge Lucas still living off that 1976 money...Play on Playa!
