'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' Blasts to $200 Million-Plus Weekend After $104 Million Opening Day

As expected, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” is sending the 2017 box office out with a bang, joining its predecessor “The Force Awakens,” as only the second film to make over $100 million on its opening day with $104.7 million from 4,232 screens.

Industry estimates currently have Rian Johnson’s sequel making around $215 million for the weekend, making it the second-highest opening of all-time and the fourth $200 million-plus opening alongside “Force Awakens,” “Jurassic World” and “The Avengers.” Of that opening day total came from Thursday preview screenings, also the second-highest in box office history behind “The Force Awakens.”

Also Read: 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' Movie Review: The Thrills Are Strong with This One

While the film has prompted vigorous debate amongst hardcore “Star Wars” fans, casual audiences had a blast, giving it an A on CinemaScore to add to its sterling 93 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. The draw of Luke Skywalker and new characters like Rey and Kylo Ren is certainly bigger than that for the characters in “Rogue One,” as “The Last Jedi” is currently tracking to open 42 percent higher than the $155 million opening posted by Gareth Edwards’ anthology film.

Worldwide, “The Last Jedi” is estimated to make $425 million this weekend, giving it one of the top five highest opening weekends of all-time. The film has opened in 48 overseas markets, taking the No. 1 spot in 46 of them (Turkey and Korea excluded) and racking up $105.8 million through Friday.

Also releasing this weekend is “Ferdinand,” a Golden Globe-nominated animated film made by Blue Sky and released by Disney’s latest acquisition, 20th Century Fox. The film is currently tracking for a $13-15 million opening weekend after making $3.5 million on Friday from 3,621 screens. The film also has an A on CinemaScore and 74 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

'Star Wars: The Last Jedi': 8 A-List Cameos to Keep an Eye (and Ear) Out for (Photos)

"Star Wars: The Last Jedi" is finally here, and much like "The Force Awakens" and "Rogue One," it is filled with celebrities who oh-so-badly wanted to be a part of a galaxy far, far away. From past "Star Wars" directors to the next King of England, these cameos come in blink-and-you'll-miss-it shots or in the voices of bizarre alien creatures on Canto Bight, the newest Star Wars planet that looks like Galactic Monaco. Here is some to look out for when you watch the movie:
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When Gareth Edwards wrote "Rogue One," he put Rian Johnson in front of the camera for a special cameo. Now, Rian is returning the favor in "The Last Jedi." If you can remember to do so during the film's heart-pounding climax on the salt planet of Crait, look for Edwards as a Resistance soldier fighting in the trenches.
As hardcore Warwick Davis, who famously played Wicket the Ewok in "Return of the Jedi," has made cameos in "Star Wars" movies ever since. Here, he voices one of the rich, greedy creatures gambling their ill-gotten gains away on Canto Bight.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt has a long history with Rian Johnson, starring in his 2005 debut film "Brick" and his nail-biting sci-fi film "Looper." He also has a voice cameo as one of the gamblers on Canto Bight.
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Another star of "Brick," Noah Segan, also has a long-standing relationship with Rian Johnson. He appears in this film as an X-Wing pilot who fights in the opening battle against a Dreadnought Star Destroyer.
Very mild spoiler here: As part of a mission, Finn and Rose are instructed to go to Canto Bight and search for someone wearing a floral pin. That pin is worn by a craps-throwing Canto Bight gambler played by Justin Theroux, star of HBO's "The Leftovers" and writer for films like "Tropic Thunder" and "Iron Man 2."
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It might become a new tradition to have big stars play Stormtroopers in these new Star Wars movies. Daniel Craig played one in "The Force Awakens," and here, Tom Hardy plays one in a scene where Finn and Rose disguise themselves as First Order officers to sneak onto Supreme Leader Snoke's mothership. But he's not the only famous Stormtrooper in that scene...
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The future King of England, Prince William, and his brother, Prince Harry, also play Stormtroopers on Snoke's ship. Like Hardy, you probably won't be able to spot them, but they also got a "Star Wars" moment of their own this week, when BB-8 bowed to them as they arrived at the film's London premiere.
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These guest roles are easy to miss

"Star Wars: The Last Jedi" is finally here, and much like "The Force Awakens" and "Rogue One," it is filled with celebrities who oh-so-badly wanted to be a part of a galaxy far, far away. From past "Star Wars" directors to the next King of England, these cameos come in blink-and-you'll-miss-it shots or in the voices of bizarre alien creatures on Canto Bight, the newest Star Wars planet that looks like Galactic Monaco. Here is some to look out for when you watch the movie:

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'Star Wars: The Last Jedi': 8 A-List Cameos to Keep an Eye (and Ear) Out for (Photos)

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