Monday, May 23, 2005
STAR WARS "REVENGE OF THE SITH" TAKES IN BOFFO $158MIL BOXOFFICE IN US, USING AUCTION TO SELL 158 TIX AT A MILLION EACH
"...Sith" (which, some nerds have pointed out, is an anagram of a "very naughty dirty word") took in a record-breaking $50 million during its opening day last Thursday, the new single-day record helped out because, as exit polling revealed, some people had heard of this "Star Wars" before.
But what was truly unique was the method by which the record box office was achieved: a new system whereby 50 tickets across the country were auctioned off for $1 million each. Another 108 "million-dollar tickets" were sold the rest of the weekend, bringing total US receipts to $158 million. Add in another 145 tickets sold at a mil each overseas, and the newest Star Wars flicks has taken in a staggering $303 million worldwide.
Lucasfilm and theatre owners have noted that once more people are allowed to buy tickets, at slightly lower prices, total sales may rise even further.
In a related story, George Lucas has announced plans to buy Northern California, for $98 billion in cash, stock, and Star Wars memorabilia. All land north of Modesto will be renamed "Lucalifornias" in 2006.
But what was truly unique was the method by which the record box office was achieved: a new system whereby 50 tickets across the country were auctioned off for $1 million each. Another 108 "million-dollar tickets" were sold the rest of the weekend, bringing total US receipts to $158 million. Add in another 145 tickets sold at a mil each overseas, and the newest Star Wars flicks has taken in a staggering $303 million worldwide.
Lucasfilm and theatre owners have noted that once more people are allowed to buy tickets, at slightly lower prices, total sales may rise even further.
In a related story, George Lucas has announced plans to buy Northern California, for $98 billion in cash, stock, and Star Wars memorabilia. All land north of Modesto will be renamed "Lucalifornias" in 2006.
