‘The Last Jedi’ Box Office Pushes ‘Star Wars’ Franchise Past $4 Billion
When Disney purchased Lucasfilm for $4 billion five years ago, Hollywood wondered why the studio, which had just spent $5 billion on Marvel Studios, would pay so much for two defunct franchises.
Well they have now officially proved everyone wrong, as the success of Star Wars: The Last Jedi has sent the franchise past $4 billion in ticket sales.
Star Wars relaunched with 2015’s The Force Awakens, which to date has made $2 billion at the worldwide box office. It was followed by 2016’s Rogue One, which has tallied $1 billion.
Ron Howard is directing Solo: A Star Wars Story, which is released May 25, 2018. Source: The Verge
As of this writing, The Last Jedi has made $914 million worldwide. It may even get past $1 billion before 2017 ends. Domestically, it is only about $60 million behind Beauty and the Beast for the year’s highest grossing film, meaning a strong New Year’s box office could send it to No. 1.
The Last Jedi’s success has given Disney five of the top 10 highest grossing films of the year. These numbers helped push Disney past $6 billion in box office for 2017.
The studio is also working on a fifth installment of Indiana Jones, with Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford on board.
Disney will try to continue its Star Wars world takeover with Solo: A Star Wars Story, out May 25, 2018 and Star Wars: Episode IX December 20, 2019.
Source: Entertainment Weekly, Box Office Mojo
