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PEOPLE & ARTS Monday 19 deceMber 2016
‘Rogue One’ soars to second-best December debut with $155M
SANDY COHEN Awakens,” the space intense marketplaces for
AP Entertainment Writer saga’s seventh install- movies I’ve ever seen,”
LOS ANGELES (AP) — ment, which debuted to Dergarabedian said.
“Rogue One: A Star $247.9 million in the U.S. “You have a ‘Star Wars’
Wars Story” soared to and Canada last De- movie out there looming
the top of the weekend cember. like the Death Star over
box office as expected, Like “The Force Awak- everything, and a re-
scoring the second-best ens” did in 2015, “Rogue ally great crop of Oscar
December opening One” could top the box contenders that keeps
ever with $155 million in office for the rest of the expanding.”
estimated ticket sales. year, Dergarabedian Denzel Washington’s
After the biggest Thurs- said. “Fences” opened in lim-
day night debut of the Set before the events of ited release this week-
year, the intergalactic the original 1977 “Star end and expands on
adventure blasted past Wars,” it stars Felicity Christmas Day. “Man-
industry expectations for Jones and Diego Luna chester by the Sea,” ‘’La This image released by Lucasfilm Ltd. shows Felicity Jones as Jyn
Erso in a scene from, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.”
a $130 million weekend, as leaders of a rebel La Land” and “Arrival,” Associated Press
according Sunday’s stu- faction that steals plans which all earned awards
dio estimates. “Rogue for its imperial enemy’s nominations recently, ers: Trailers for the new which looks absolutely
One” opened at No. 1 master weapon, the remain in the box office “Guardians of the Gal- massive,” Dergarabedi-
in all markets globally, Death Star. top 10. axy,” ‘’Spider-Man” and an said.Estimated ticket
though it has yet to bow “Rogue One” knocked Moviegoers who see “Fast & Furious” films play sales for Friday through
in China and Korea. the No. 1 movie for the “Rogue One” will also before the feature. Sunday at U.S. and Ca-
“We’re in uncharted ter- past three weeks, Dis- get a peek at next year’s “Rogue One” is the “per- nadian theaters, ac-
ritory for December,” ney’s “Moana,” to a dis- anticipated blockbust- fect lead-in for 2017, cording to comScore.
said Paul Dergarabe- tant second with $11.6
dian, senior media ana- million, followed by “Of-
lyst for box office tracker fice Christmas Party”
comScore. “It’s going to with $8.4 million.
be really hard for any The weekend’s other
movie to catch up to new wide release, the
this movie. ... This is only critically panned Will
the second time a mov- Smith drama “Collat-
ie has opened this big in eral Beauty,” opened in
December.” fourth place with $7 mil-
The record-setter was lion.
“Star Wars: The Force “This is one of the most
