By Sandy Cohen, Entertainment Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) --"Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" soared to the top of the weekend box office as expected, scoring the second-best December opening ever with $155 million in estimated ticket sales.
After the biggest Thursday night debut of the year, the intergalactic adventure blasted past industry expectations for a $130 million weekend, according Sunday's studio estimates. "Rogue One" opened at No. 1 in all markets globally, though it has yet to bow in China and Korea.
"We're in uncharted territory for December," said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for box office tracker comScore. "It's going to be really hard for any movie to catch up to this movie. … This is only the second time a movie has opened this big in December."
The record-setter was "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," the space saga's seventh installment, which debuted to $247.9 million in the U.S. and Canada last December.
Like "The Force Awakens" did in 2015, "Rogue One" could top the box office for the rest of the year, Dergarabedian said.
Set before the events of the original 1977 "Star Wars," it stars Felicity Jones and Diego Luna as leaders of a rebel faction that steals plans for its imperial enemy's master weapon, the Death Star.
"Rogue One" knocked the No. 1 movie for the past three weeks, Disney's "Moana," to a distant second with $11.6 million, followed by "Office Christmas Party" with $8.4 million.
The weekend's other new wide release, the critically panned Will Smith drama "Collateral Beauty," opened in fourth place with $7 million.
"This is one of the most intense marketplaces for movies I've ever seen," Dergarabedian said. "You have a 'Star Wars' movie out there looming like the Death Star over everything, and a really great crop of Oscar contenders that keeps expanding."
Denzel Washington's "Fences" opened in limited release this weekend and expands on Christmas Day. "Manchester by the Sea," ''La La Land" and "Arrival," which all earned awards nominations recently, remain in the box office top 10.
Moviegoers who see "Rogue One" will also get a peek at next year's anticipated blockbusters: Trailers for the new "Guardians of the Galaxy," ''Spider-Man" and "Fast & Furious" films play before the feature.
"Rogue One" is the "perfect lead-in for 2017, which looks absolutely massive," Dergarabedian said.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore. The latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," $155 million ($290.5 million international).
2. "Moana," $11.66 million ($27.16 million international).
3. "Office Christmas Party," $8.4 million ($17.5 million international).
4. "Collateral Beauty," $7 million ($11.6 million international).
5. "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," $5 million ($19.5 million international).
6. "Manchester by the Sea," $4.1 million ($4.66 million international).
7. "La La Land," $4 million ($8.7 million international).
8. "Arrival," $2.77 million ($5.97 million international).
9. "Doctor Strange," $2 million ($2.8 million international).
10. "Nocturnal Animals," $1.39 million ($1.99 million international).
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada), according to comScore:
1. "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," $290.5 million.
2. "The Great Wall," $57 million.
3. "Moana," $27.16 million.
4. "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," $19.5 million.
5. "Office Christmas Party," $17.5 million.
6. "Collateral Beauty," $11.6 million.
7. "Hacksaw Ridge," $9.46 million.
8. "The Wasted Times," $9.1 million.
9. "La La Land," $8.7 million.
10. "Pandora," $7.6 million.
Droga5 Appoints Emma Montgomery As Global Chief Strategy Officer
Creative agency network Droga5 has appointed Emma Montgomery as global chief strategy officer. She is the third global appointment for the agency this year, with Pelle Sjoenell named worldwide chief creative officer this past March, and global CEO Mark Green recently appointed this fall. Montgomery will be responsible for connecting and supercharging Droga5’s strategy and creative offerings globally. She will be based in its headquarters in New York City.
“Emma is a world-class strategic leader and authority that I’ve long admired and dreamt of being partners-in-crime with,” said Sjoenell. “Her work inspires the creativity that connects people and brands in ways that move business and culture forward, so I’m excited to finally be able to work with her alongside Mark, and to see her lead and further strengthen our leadership and strategy teams around the world.”
Montgomery joins Droga5 after serving as CEO of DDB Chicago. She’s been in the industry for over 20 years, and has served in several high-level leadership positions throughout her career, including as president and CSO of Leo Burnett Chicago, global CSO of TBWA, and CEO of Leo Burnett Australia. She’s also worked across a breadth of categories and multiple global clients such as Kraft, Aldi, Diageo and Molson Coors, among many others, including challenger brands and startups.
“I’m excited to join Droga5 and have the opportunity to help carve out a new path for the brand globally, building on its tremendous legacy of creative leadership,” said Montgomery. “The potential of Droga5, combined with the possibilities of Accenture Song, was too exciting to pass up. No other agency has what they have, and as marketing shifts, the chance to make creativity a genuine... Read More