Skip to main content

Star Wars: The Force Awakens shatters pre-sale records, epic IMAX poster revealed

star wars the force awakens end credits shot
Image used with permission by copyright holder
It’s hardly a surprise that Star Wars: The Force Awakens ticket pre-sales have been impressive, but the sheer magnitude is jaw-dropping. Not only did the iconic franchise’s forthcoming installment take over The Hunger Games‘ record for most tickets sold on its first day, Fandango data shows that it did so eight times over. Additionally, IMAX pre-sales are also off the charts, reaching $6.5 million in domestic tickets alone. To top if off, a new Star Wars IMAX poster (pictured in full below) was recently revealed; basically Star Wars fever has hit hard.

The Force Awakens has claimed every IMAX pre-sale record for itself, topping the likes of The Hunger Games: Catching FireThe Dark Knight Rises, and Avengers, each of which generated about $1 million in their first reported pre-sales, according to Deadline. Shows have already sold out, with Fandango reporting that this is especially true of IMAX. Theaters are having to add additional show times in response to the exceptional demand.

Recommended Videos

The record is especially impressive considering the fact that Fandango (along with multiple other sites in the U.S., and across the pond) crashed under the weight of all those pre-sale ticket buyers.

“This is an extraordinary time for the industry, which experienced unprecedented ticketing demand last night for Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” a Fandango representative said in a statement. “The enthusiasm for this year’s most anticipated movie is out of this world and we expect it to continue all the way to its debut on Dec. 18.”Though it’s apparently not all that necessary, AMC recently launched an incentive for viewers to catch The Force Awakens in IMAX. The theater chain has offered up exclusive posters for IMAX viewers who attend Sunday showings between Dec. 20 and Jan. 10. The first of the lot was revealed Sunday, and, needless to say, it’s pretty epic.

The Force Awakens, which opens on Dec. 18, has been particularly exciting to fans because it brings back original cast members, including Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill, for the first time since the trilogy that started it all.

Stephanie Topacio Long
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Stephanie Topacio Long is a writer and editor whose writing interests range from business to books. She also contributes to…
Everything coming to PBS in November 2024
Rachel Shenton and Nicholas Ralph in All Creatures Great and Small.

There are no new British dramas premiering on PBS in November, but there's more than enough programming to see you through the penultimate month of 2024. Ken Burns is premiering his new documentary, Leonardo da Vinci, about the world's most famous Renaissance man, artist, and inventor. And PBS has several other documentary and nature programs slated to run throughout the month.

PBS' non-partisan coverage of the 2024 presidential election will culminate on Tuesday, November 5. But if you're really missing your British dramas, there are encore presentations of All Creatures Great & Small and Call the Midwife coming as well.

Read more
What’s new on Amazon Prime Video in November 2024
A man stands in front of a caution sign.

James Patterson's Alex Cross character is getting a third chance in live-action this month on Amazon Prime Video. Morgan Freeman and Tyler Perry have previously portrayed the titular detective character. Now, Black Adam's Aldis Hodge steps into the role. The new Cross series is Prime Video's biggest debut in November, but far from the only noteworthy addition. There are a lot of new additions to the streamer's movie lineup, including The Godfather trilogy, Silver Linings Playbook, and the unconventional vampire film Abigail.

Additionally, Prime Video is rebooting Cruel Intentions as a drama series, which has the potential to be another big hit for the streamer. And aside from Die Hard, there are only a handful of Christmas titles coming this month. We can appreciate a little restraint, especially since December will likely be a very different story.

Read more
What’s new on Disney+ in November 2024
A masked Ryan Reynolds covers his mouth as Hugh Jackman glowers in a still from the movie "Deadpool & Wolverine."

Thanks to Disney's big summer at the box office, Disney+ gets to bring home the second-highest-grossing movie of the year in November. Deadpool & Wolverine is making its streaming debut on November 12, but it's not the only noteworthy new addition to Disney+. If you've ever loved the Star Wars and Indiana Jones themes of John Williams, then you should watch the new documentary Music By John Williams, which is available on Disney+ as of November 1.

A really charming Christmas-related animated short, An Almost Christmas Story, is arriving on November 15, while Beatles '64 adds yet another Beatlemania documentary to Disney+ on November 29. On that same date, Disney is also celebrating the 60th anniversary of Mary Poppins this month by releasing a special documentary about one of Walt Disney's personal favorite films. And finally, Disney gets to capitalize on the release of Wicked by bringing Oz the Great and Powerful to Disney+ near the end of November.

Read more