'Star Wars': How the First 6 Films Performed at Box Office

Other than “It’s gonna be big!” there’s not much of a consensus on how much “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is going to make on its opening weekend, overseas, in China or whether it will challenge “Avatar” and “Titanic” as the highest-grossing film ever globally.

We’ll start gathering clues on Friday, though there will be preview showings starting at 7 p.m. Thursday, when it debuts in North America. It’s also rolling out this weekend in every other major market in the world, except China.

In the meantime, let’s take a look back at what previous films in the “Star Wars” franchise have done. Nobody knows that realm better than the box-office specialists at digital data tracking firm Rentrak, which has been tabulating the grosses rung up by Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and the Empire since 1977, when the first film debuted.

Also Read: 'Star Wars' Is About to Break Records for Breaking Records

Here’s how the first six “Star Wars” films did at multiplexes over the years, with a dash of Academy Awards history thrown in to spice things up.

'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Storms Hollywood for Epic World Premiere (Photos)

Hollywood rolls out the red carpet for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"
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Harrison Ford (with Calista Flockhart) reprises his iconic role of Han Solo.
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Carrie Fisher is back as Leia.
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Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o plays the mysterious Pirate Queen Maz Kanata.
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"Star Wars" creator George Lucas passes the torch to "Force Awakens" director J.J. Abrams.
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Lucas and wife Mellody Hobson make a memorable entrance.
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Newcomer Daisy Ridley plays Rey, a scavenger on the desert planet Jakku.
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Mark Hamill returns as Luke Skywalker, the role that made him a breakout star in 1977.
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John Boyega stars as lead character, Finn.
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Adam Driver plays villain Kylo Ren in the latest installment.
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British actor Anthony Daniels is best known as lovable droid C-3PO, having played him in all seven films.
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"Chi-Raq" filmaker Spike Lee and wife Tonya Lewis Lee.
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R2-D2 and C3-PO walk the red carpet together.
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The newest "Star Wars" droid, BB-8, rolls down the red carpet.
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Carrie Fisher and daughter Billie Lourd, who also appears in the new film.
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"Game of Thrones" actress Gwendoline Christie plays Captain Phasma in the new film.
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"Black Panther" star Chadwick Boseman joins the red carpet chaos.
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Stormtroopers march down the red carpet.
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Peter Mayhew played Chewbacca in the original films and returns for the "Force Awakens."
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A closeup shot of a new Stormtrooper.
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"Shadowhunters" actor Dominic Sherwood and "Modern Family" star Sarah Hyland.
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Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy and producer Frank Marshall.
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Model and actress Kelly Rohrbach.
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Stand-up comedian Patton Oswalt.
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The calm before the storm.
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Stormtrooper costumes on display at the premiere.
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Covered tents line the street outside the Dolby Theatre.
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A Darth Vader statue is transported onto the site.
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An avid fan is transformed into a red Stormtrooper.
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Fans fill the bleachers in front of the Dolby Theatre.
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Bomb-sniffing dogs patrol the site on Hollywood Blvd.
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Police dogs keep watch over the Hollywood Walk of Fame behind the premiere tent.
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There was a heavy police dog presence.
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'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' imagery and signage are displayed along the red carpet.
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