Sci-Fi Storm

In case you had any questions as to why Disney spent $4 billion dollars acquiring Lucasfilm three years ago, wonder no more…Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the first product of the new Lucasfilm, has already made over $1 billion at the global box office, and in record time. And business is expected to remain brisk through the remainder of the holiday break, with no major releases and China’s release still ahead.

And why is it crushing records? People are seeing it more than once – some as many as five or six times, harkening back to the original movie. I myself already have tickets to see it again next weekend, after which I might be willing to make spoiler-level comments on the movie.

No spoilers! No spoilers!

Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which opened in “previews” nationwide yesterday evening, has already destroyed the Thursday preview records with $57 million, is looking at somewhere between $130-$150 million for an opening day mark (which includes Thursday), and could top a quarter of a billion dollars by the end of the weekend!

I got to be one of those record setters last night, and just wanted to say (NO SPOILERS! Even though I want to talk to people about it!) that the movie was awesome – it puts all three prequels to shame. Visually stunning – location shooting just seemed more real than any of the prior movies. Cheers rang out when each of the classic characters arrived. It also felt like it had more humor than any of the past movies – in a really really good way. Some nitpicky things too…but I’ll leave those for later.

Update 12/21: It’s official – Star Wars: The Force Awakens now has the biggest opening weekend ever, both domestically and globally. The reportedly final numbers, after a late boost from the domestic box office, are $247.97 million domestically, and about $529 million globally. That’s half a billion dollars folks – in a weekend. And it is still expected to do brisk business with upcoming releases this weekend not expected to compete for #1, and lots of people still waiting to see it and others watching it multiple times. I’ll be seeing it again on New Years weekend, but this time in Laser IMAX3D…

I…can’t…wait…

The first TV spot for Star Wars: The Force Awakens was released last night, “Every generation has a story”…it’s getting closer!

Star Wars Weekends, a multi-weekend event that Disney has hosted for annually for the last 13 years and occasionally before that, is over.

It was announced on the official Disney Parks Blog today, although we believed it already to be the case.

Construction will begin next year in Disney’s Hollywood Studios park, where the Weekends were held, in order to provide a whole new “land” dedicated to Star Wars. Previously, the Star Wars presence was limited to the Star Tours attraction, the Tatooine Traders shop, and more recently the Jedi Training Academy (where children get trained by a Jedi and then face Darth Vader!) With Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012 everyone expected a bigger park presence and it’s on the way. A few details were released about that expansion:

• On December 1st, “Star Wars: Launch Bay” opens, giving fans a look at the franchise and the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens with special exhibits and peeks behind-the-scenes, special merchandise and opportunities to encounter Chewbacca and Darth Vader.
• Star Tours: The Adventure Continues will feature a new scene inspired by Star Wars: The Force Awakens: a chase following the Millenium Falcon through the ship wreckage on the desert planet of Jakku. Those familiar with the random scenes in the attraction might be glad to know that for a few months, the Jakku scene will be in every ride, and then it “will be up to the will of the Force”.
• Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple (opening early December) is a re-imagining of the Jedi Training Academy which will take younglings to the secret site of an ancient Jedi temple where they will face Darth Vader along with the Seventh Sister – a new villain from the Disney XD series Star Wars Rebels
• Star Wars: Path of the Jedi will feature scenes from the complete Star Wars saga, also giving anyone new to the Star Wars galaxy an opportunity to get acquainted with the films.

We may have had the “final” U.S. trailer, but this Japanese one focuses on Rey, and shows us some more interesting scenes…I’m almost getting a Katniss Everdeen vibe…

SIX WEEKS!

Check out these cool character posters released today for Star Wars: The Force Awakens – five characters each holding their weapon (except Leia, whose weapon appears to be information/strategy)…pretty awesome!

You can see the crackle and sparks to Kylo Ren’s lightsaber – perhaps betraying a less refined origin…

Hot off the presses!

From our sister site, WDW Untangled…

On the opening night of Star Wars: The Force Awakens on December 17th, Walt Disney World Resort will host a special ticketed event at Disney Springs (formerly Downtown Disney) and Disney’s Hollywood Studios park for fans who want to be among the first viewers of the movie and celebrate with other fans.

Guests will have a confirmed seat at the AMC Disney Springs 24 theater for a showing between 7pm-8pm, and then celebrate over at Hollywood Studios at a private party afterwards until 2am. The party will include special access to the new Star Wars: Launch Bay exhibit, the Star Tours: The Adventures Continue attraction, a DJ dance party, and a preview of the all new fireworks display set to Star Wars music. Costumes are encouraged! But follow standard Disney guest costume guidelines – if you dress like a Disney character, for instance, you may not pose for pictures with other guests or sign autographs, etc.

Characters will also appear at Launch Bay – it is sounding like a private mini-Star Wars Weekends!

Tickets will go on sale immediately after the latest trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens airs tonight during Monday Night Football. And in fact, tickets for showings at theaters around the country will go on sale at the same time!

Ticket prices will depend on which format you see the movie in: 2D ($94.99), 3D ($98.99) and 3D ETX ($99.99).

Note: Direct transportation between Disney Springs and Hollywood Studios will NOT be provided. Parking is free at Disney Springs, and parking at Hollywood Studios is included in the price of the ticket. Guests staying at a WDW Resort will be able to take transportation from Disney Springs to their resort, and then on to Hollywood Studios.

More FAQs can be found here.

Profiles In History kicks off their “Hollywood 74” auction this week, and they have lots of cool toys up for auction, including stuff from Star Wars, Star Trek and many, many more!

Some examples from the Star Wars collection:

An original “Rebel Fleet Trooper” helmet from the opening scene of Star Wars: A New Hope

The original Blockade Runner filming miniature from Star Wars: A New Hope

Star Wars “Ridgeback” Stormtrooper helmet

Carrie Fisher’s “Slave Leia” costume from Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi

The catalog is MASSIVE at over 600 pages. Take a look at the online version but prepared for a lot of time and clicking!