(NBC News) The countdown is on for tonight’s premiere of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”.
That the film will open big is a given. The question is how big?
“The Force Awakens” arrives with more than $100 million in advance ticket sales. It’s expected to rake in between $150 and $200 million in the United States by Monday.
“There’s something about this mythology, something about these characters, that a vast audience just loves,” says Fandango’s Dave Karger, “And when it’s
done right, it’s a very powerful thing.”
It’s a force that Disney bet $4 billion on to power numerous sequels, spinoffs and merchandise sales in the years ahead, which means pressure for director J.J. Abrams, who grew up with the franchise.
“Our goal along the way was always to embrace this feeling that we had from that original trilogy,” Abrams says.
One of the saga’s newest heroes thinks he has.
“Me promoting this is not just a job. I’m genuinely in love with this movie,” says John Boyega.
Still, it’ll take a lot of love for ticket sales to approach all time box office records.
“The only way you can make Avatar or Titanic money is if you have a film people will go back and see three, even four times,” Karger notes.
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