Geeks everywhere are still rolling out of their Jedi robes and prying off their Vader masks, but the numbers are in at The Hollywood Reporter: Revenge of the Sith is already shattering box office records.
Last night’s heavily attended midnight screenings brought in an estimated $16.5 million to $17 million in cold hard, ticket buying cash. Fox, is naturally overjoyed. Somewhere in the midst of their corporate offices, there may even be dancing: “It's an absolutely remarkable number.” Said Bruce Snyder, president of Fox’s domestic distribution. With such a huge initial take for just one showing, Sith is well on its way to breaking Spider-Man's $40 million opening day record and The Matrix Reloaded's record for a Thursday, individual day opening at $37.5 million.
The question is whether or not this kind of attendance will hold up through the weekend. After all, haven’t the most devoted fans already seen it? To keep breaking records, Sith will need heavy repeat business over the weekend, and to hang on to number one the week following, it’ll need even more of it. Judging from the positive reaction, I have a feeling this movie is going to get it.
