[Weekend Actuals: The Force Awakens - 90.2M !!!]

something many may not realize; Lots of schools don't return until tomorrow or wednesday.  Pretty much the entire DFW metro and a big chunk of Texas. Perhaps a little higher Monday than we probably expect?

[Gone With the Wind (1939) Box Office:20 million Tickets Sold in the First Year.]

Don't like these comparisons when you're talking about a movie that could only be seen at a theater for most of its life.  Think of all of the movies that you've watched more than once at home.  Imagine if you had to hit up a theater instead of Netflix, Vudu or a Blu Ray everytime you wanted to see your favorite movie. 

[Weekend Actuals: The Force Awakens - 90.2M !!!]

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But these numbers pale in comparison to the estimated merchandise revenue. According to analyst Tim Nollen of Macquarie Securities, the year following the December 18th premiere of The Force Awakens will see $5 billion in franchise merchandise revenue.

Impressed yet? Well, Star Wars creator George Lucas has earned approximately $20 billion from merchandise sales in the brand’s 38 years. From licensed merchandise alone, The franchise will likely generate a quarter of that impressive revenue in one year.

 

 

I know this is a box office site, but this is why Disney is probably more concerned about the DOM box office, because that will translate most into merchandise.  The US market is notorious for tie-in merchandising sales compared to the rest of the world and those US eyeballs = ad revenue and merchandise.  While Avatar is great box office it pales in comparison as a known franchise for merchandising.  In that sense, the Marvel Universe is the same way.  Sure you want to win everything, but getting US eyeballs is more important to them than worldwide eyeballs right now.  If you can hock that merchandise ww, of course you want to, but consumer behavior differs by market.