'The Last Jedi' opens with US$220M, 2nd best weekend all-time

Jake Coyle, The Associated Press</span>
Published Sunday, December 17, 2017 12:05PM EST

NEW YORK - "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" rocketed to a debut of US$220 million at the box office, landing the second-best opening weekend ever in North America and slotting in behind only its predecessor, "The Force Awakens."

The Disney blockbuster is only the fourth film to open above $200 million in North America. Aside from "The Force Awakens," the others are "The Avengers" and "Jurassic World."

Good reviews helped it. Rian Johnson's sequel to "The Force Awakens" has a 93 per cent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences endorsed it too, giving it an A on CinemaScore.

The weekend's only other new wide release came from 20th Century Fox, the film studio that Disney on Thursday acquired as part of its $52.4 billion purchase of its parent company, 21st Century Fox. "Ferdinand" grossed $13.3 million.

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