Weekend Box Office Report: December 15-17, 2017

Star Wars: The Last Jedi blows up the box office!

Moviegoers couldn't wait for another trip to a galaxy far, far away, blasting STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI to first place this weekend with an estimated opening of $220 million!

The latest space adventure tying together new and old generations in George Lucas' universe had the second-highest opening ever, behind only the record-setting $248 domestic million debut of director JJ Abrams' THE FORCE AWAKENS on this same weekend in 2015 (it remains the highest-grossing domestic release in history with $923 million).

The second chapter following fresh heroes and villains (and the Skywalkers) also scored $230 million from international crowds for a worldwide opening of $450 million.

With $45 million from Thursday evening alone and $104 million on opening day, THE LAST JEDI also again followed THE FORCE AWAKENS for the second-biggest Thursday and Friday single-day grosses.

Although the sci-fi sequel from director Rian Johnson seems to be dividing audiences, critics found it a rousing affair and gave it a current 93% average on Rotten Tomatoes. Check out the JoBlo reviews HERE and HERE.

The only major new release that dared to compete with the power of the Force was the animated FERDINAND, which opened in second place with $13.3 million.

The story of a friendly bull (voiced by wrestler John Cena) cost a reported $111 million, and pleased the majority of critics with a 73% average on Rotten Tomatoes. The JoBlo review is HERE.

Pixar's COCO moved to third place with $10 million after spending three weekends on top. The animated Day of the Dead musical now has a domestic total of $150 million, and has gathered nearly $450 million worldwide.

In fourth place was the Julia Roberts/Owen Wilson family drama WONDER with $5.4 million, bringing it to $109.2 million domestic and $153 million worldwide. JUSTICE LEAGUE followed in fifth place with $4.1 million on its fifth weekend for a domestic total of $219.4 million (or roughly the opening of THE LAST JEDI). The DC superhero team-up is at a global total of $634 million.

The Will Ferrell/Mark Wahlberg sequel DADDY'S HOME 2 held in sixth place with $3.8 million as the holiday comedy keeps striving towards $100 million.

THOR: RAGNAROK was in seventh with $2.9 million, which puts it at $306.3 million after seven weekends. The Thunder God sequel's $841 million worldwide total comes up short of Marvel's other 2017 releases ($863 million for GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 and $880 million for SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING).

James Franco's THE ROOM chronicle THE DISASTER ARTIST dropped to eighth with $2.6 million, losing 58% of business despite adding another 170 screens (bringing it to just over 1000 locations).

Beyond that, MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS is still chugging toward $100 million domestic, and Greta Gerwig's LADY BIRD keeps flying in the Top 10 on its seventh weekend in release.

Outside the chart, the Morgan Freeman/Tommy Lee Jones comedy JUST GETTING STARTED already finished after one week on the list, and the animated Christmas story THE STAR departed before the holiday arrived.

Next week offers several new contenders with Hugh Jackman as the singing ringleader in THE GREATEST SHOWMAN and The Rock bringing friends to the sequel JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (both on Wednesday), while Matt Damon shrinks in DOWNSIZING, R-rated comedy is attempted in FATHER FIGURES, Anna Kendrick and the Bellas are back for PITCH PERFECT 3, and Steven Spielberg's drama THE POST opens in limited release..

What is your favorite STAR WARS movie? VOTE HERE!