‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ Easily Fandango’s Top Advance Ticket Seller Of 2017

Fandango reports this morning that Disney’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi has outstripped Beauty and the Beast to become the online/mobile ticketing retailer’s top seller of the year.

For quite some time, industry estimates have pegged The Last Jedi at an opening around $200M at 4,175-plus theaters. Force Awakens opened at 4,134 two years ago and Rogue One debuted in 4,157 locations last year. Worst case scenario for Last Jedi opening wise is $185M, while the best case is any figure north of $210M. Beauty and the Beast owns the top opening of 2017 with $174.8M. Again, given the limited amount of statistical B.O. data, it’s hard for anyone to peg exactly where The Last Jedi will land when its opening projections are this high. Of its theater count, Last Jedi will play in 410 IMAX screens, 640+ Premium Large Format, 3,600+ 3D locations, and 212 D-Box locations.

Disney held the premiere on Saturday night with screenings following yesterday. It’s fair to say by straw-poll standards that most people in Hollywood are over the moon about the Rian Johnson-directed sequel.

 According to a Fandango survey of more than 1,000 Star Wars: The Last Jedi ticket-buyers:

–96% are looking forward to seeing the late Carrie Fisher on the big screen.

–94% can’t wait to find out more about the relationship between Luke Skywalker & Rey.

–83% say the new Porg creatures increased their interest in seeing the movie.

–60% identify Benicio Del Toro as the new-to-Star Wars actor that fans are most excited to see in The Last Jedi.