Box Office: ‘Star Wars’ Crosses $600M in U.S., Hits $1.23B Worldwide

J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: The Force Awakens has crossed the $600 million mark in North America after earning $29.5 million from 4,134 theaters on Tuesday for a total of $600.9 million.

Worldwide, the Disney and Lucasfilm release has cleared $1.23 billion as it races up the chart of all-time top-grossing titles. On Tuesday, it took the No. 9 spot after overtaking Iron Man 3 ($1.22 billion). Force Awakens also crossed the $600 million mark internationally on Tuesday, earning $37.7 million for a foreign haul of $627.4 million.

It’s only the fifth film in history to cross $600 million domestically, after The Avengers ($623.4 million), Jurassic World ($652.3 million), Titanic ($658.7 million) and Avatar ($760.5 million), not accounting for inflation. And it’s possible Force Awakens could overtake Avatar by the end of New Year’s weekend.

Thanks to the Star Wars reboot, North American box-office revenue has hit $11 billion for the first time, besting 2013’s record $10.9 billion, according to Rentrak.

The movie has smashed one record after another since its debut. Add to that list becoming the fastest film in history to cross $1 billion at the worldwide box office, a feat it accomplished on Sunday, its 12th day in release. That compares to 13 days for Jurassic World, which boasted a day-and-date opening in China. (Star Wars doesn’t open in China until Jan. 9).

Elsewhere at the crowded holiday box office, Daddy’s Home crossed $50 million in North America, staying safely at No. 2 domestically with $7 million from 3,172 locations for a $52.1 million total. The broad comedy, starring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg, is from Paramount and Red Granite Pictures.

Boosted by families, Fox’s family offering Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip is holding at No. 3, earning $4.7 million from 3,705 theaters for a domestic cume of $48.2 million.

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler’s R-rated comedy, Sisters, continues to thrive thanks to keen interest from females. The Universal title placed No. 4 with an estimated $3.2 million from 2,962 locations for a total $43.7 million.

Among awards contenders opening over the year-end holidays, Fox’s Joy, directed by David O. Russell and starring Jennifer Lawrence, rounded out the top five with an estimated $2.8 million from 2,896 theaters for a cume of $22.5 million.

The Big Short, the financial dramedy directed by Adam McKay, followed with $1.9 million from 1,585 locations, a modest footprint. Starring Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt, The Big Short, earning $20 million to date for Paramount and New Regency, will up its theater count on Jan. 8, the weekend before Oscar nominations and the Golden Globes ceremony.

Will Smith-starrer Concussion was in a close race with The Big Short, taking in $1.87 million from 2,841 theaters for a domestic cume of $14 million.

Point Break, Alcon Entertainment’s extreme sports extravaganza and loose remake of the 1991 cult classic, is faring dismally, considering its $100 million budget. Distributed by Warner Bros., stayed at No. 8 with $1.6 million from 2,910 locations for a total of $12.9 million.

The marquee gets even more crowded Wednesday as Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight expands nationwide following a promising limited run in 70mm film. Hateful Eight has earned $6.7 million since its release in 100 theaters on Christmas Day after a $1.5 million on Tuesday. That includes $600,000 in Tuesday-evening previews from 950 theaters projecting the film digitally.

Opening Wednesday at the specialty box office is Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson’s stop-motion animated film, Anomalisa. Paramount opens the awards contender in four theaters in New York and Los Angeles.

Dec. 30, 9:10 a.m. Updated with Tuesday numbers.