Star Wars: The Force Awakens to Open in Over 4,100+ American Theaters, is Set to Break Box Office Records.

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Star Wars: The Force Awakens is poised to break all kinds of records worldwide, but The Wrap has found out that there seems to be one record the film won’t break on its opening weekend – the widest release for an American film. That being said, the release is still substantially large, with at least 4,100 theaters showing the movie in its first week, and such a release at this time of the year still demolishes a few records in and of itself.

 

From The Wrap:

 

Star Wars: The Force Awakens will open Friday in more than 4,100 theaters with preview showings Thursday night. That’s a record for December, but well short of the mark for the widest rollout ever, which was the 4,465 that “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” debuted on June 30, 2010. A final figure won’t be known until Tuesday, but at its current level, the J.J. Abrams-directed reboot would not be among the 25 widest releases ever.

Roughly 3,300 of the locations will offer 3D, and it will screen in a record 392 IMAX screens, 13 of which will show the film in 70mm. There will also be 451 Premium Large Format theaters showing it and a record 146 D-Box locations.

 

Another thing to consider is that many multiplexes are expected to have half or more (!) of their screens dedicated to The Force Awakens, and the film will dominate IMAX screenings for an entire month. So while the movie’s opening might not be the widest release ever, the movie is most definitely going to be shown on more screens at once than the record-holder for widest release (The Twilight Saga: Eclipse). Other records broken are – as listed above – the widest December release ever (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was the previous record-holder here, opening in 4,065 theaters), and the widest IMAX release (Avatar was the previous record-holder here, opening in 178 theaters). In terms of a worldwide release for IMAX, the initial release of The Force Awakens will be nearly three times as expansive as Avatar was (668 theaters versus 261 theaters), and once the film opens in China in January, that already-impressive number will expand to a staggering 940 theaters. And of course, ticket presales are expected to be about $100 million or more around this time, which would be four times higher than the presales for The Dark Knight Rises. (On the subject of ticket presales, the movie has already set records in several international regions, including the United Kingdom, France, and Russia.)

 

One record the movie is expected to clear without issue is record for the most profitable the late-night opening, previously set by Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2 at $43.5 million. An advantage that The Force Awakens has over that film is that it will be shown from 7:00 PM to 12:00 AM this Thursday as opposed to Deathly Hallows merely opening up at midnight. It remains to be seen if the movie can best Jurassic World‘s $209 million opening weekend, but it is certain to be the biggest opening in a December (compared to The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey‘s $85 million opening). Furthermore, it’s uncertain if the movie can top Avatar‘s incredible $2.8 billion worldwide gross, but it seems like if any movie can surpass such a feat, it’s The Force Awakens.

 

We’re almost there – stay on target with Star Wars News Net for the latest and greatest news about the Galaxy Far, Far Away.

 

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Grant has been a fan of Star Wars for as long as he can remember, having seen every movie on the big screen. When he’s not hard at work with his college studies, he keeps himself busy by reporting on all kinds of Star Wars news for SWNN and general movie news on the sister site, Movie News Net. He served as a frequent commentator on SWNN’s The Resistance Broadcast.

Grant Davis (Pomojema)

Grant has been a fan of Star Wars for as long as he can remember, having seen every movie on the big screen. When he’s not hard at work with his college studies, he keeps himself busy by reporting on all kinds of Star Wars news for SWNN and general movie news on the sister site, Movie News Net. He served as a frequent commentator on SWNN’s The Resistance Broadcast.

74 thoughts on “Star Wars: The Force Awakens to Open in Over 4,100+ American Theaters, is Set to Break Box Office Records.

  • December 15, 2015 at 7:05 am
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    This will be freakintastic for The Force Awakens beat Avatar’s box office.

    • December 15, 2015 at 4:51 pm
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      I hadn’t had my coffee yet and am just waking up…’freakintastic for’ reminded of Fantastic Four and I panicked for a second. Awake now.

  • December 15, 2015 at 7:24 am
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    How can a movie that shows at 7 pm be considered a “late night opening”?

    • December 15, 2015 at 7:57 am
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      It isn’t technically that late, but I labeled it as such because it’s technically a few hours ahead of the given release date.

    • December 15, 2015 at 1:51 pm
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      Here in Brazil these late night screenings will happen on Wednesday at midnight, and then Thursday thru the entire day…. This will be huge…. Can’t wait….

      • December 15, 2015 at 2:21 pm
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        Eu acho que vai ser mais fraco do que nos prequels aqui no Brasil…

        • December 15, 2015 at 6:38 pm
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          acho difícil ser mais fraco…. só aqui em curitiba, TODAS as sessões iniciais de pré-estreia, em uns 5 ou 6 cinemas diferentes já esgotaram no segundo dia de vendas… O imax chegou a criar uma segunda sessão as 2:50 da manhã de quarta para quinta feira, que esgotou em seguida também….

          • December 15, 2015 at 7:00 pm
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            Beleza. Espero que a zueira na fila seja divertido como sempre. Desde 99 faço isso…

  • December 15, 2015 at 7:31 am
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    Anyone else catch Boyega’s massive wardrobe spoiler on the red carpet tonight???

    • December 15, 2015 at 7:36 am
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      Yes!

      • December 15, 2015 at 2:18 pm
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        I think we know who Rey is crying over…

        • December 15, 2015 at 3:24 pm
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          It rhymes something something

  • December 15, 2015 at 8:00 am
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    This number includes Canadian theater’s (about 10% of the number).

  • December 15, 2015 at 8:11 am
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    Early reviews are giving this a 9.5..

    • December 15, 2015 at 2:20 pm
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      Where?

      • December 15, 2015 at 2:44 pm
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        IMDB for starters. Also, check out Tweets from the premiere. Lot of folks saying they loved it!!

      • December 15, 2015 at 9:05 pm
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        No it hasn’t. No review sites have been allowed to post any type of review until last night.

    • December 15, 2015 at 5:53 pm
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      It’s had a 9.4 for months at IMDB.

      • December 16, 2015 at 12:54 am
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        No it hasn’t. No review sites have been allowed to post any type of review until last night.
        Not to mention, I’ve been checking the review sites almost daily for the past 2 weeks and this is the first I’ve seen since the premier.

  • December 15, 2015 at 9:13 am
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    between repeat viewings and viral word of mouth, i think 200mil opening weekend is in the bag.

  • December 15, 2015 at 12:04 pm
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    http://www.nu.nl/film/4182660/star-wars-film-breekt-nederlands-voorverkooprecord.html

    Star Wars also broke pre-sales records in the Netherlands. with 2 days to go, they sold 115.000 tickets, beating out the current record holders 50 shades of grey and Spectre. in an unprecedented event for the Netherlands, some movie theatres will start showing TFA (after the premiere) as early as 2:30 in the morning to cope with the ticket demands.

    I myself will see it here in Taiwan, 2 times this week, premiere in Dolby Atmos (3D) and Saturday in IMAX 3D.. not sure if my body is ready.

  • December 15, 2015 at 2:19 pm
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    Is it true that Poe Dameron is gay?

  • December 15, 2015 at 2:44 pm
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    I think I should remove this website from my bookmarks, the premiere in China will be only on Jan. 9th and I am going to watch in on Dec. 31 in HK

    • December 15, 2015 at 4:59 pm
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      Don’t bother dude. The force of this website is too strong! You can’t resist. 😉

  • December 15, 2015 at 3:10 pm
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    I’d be advised to keep expectations in check; I’ve …. snooped around a bit online and have read some … reviews that were not very favorable. Once the buzz wears down, we’ll see how much longevity this thing will really have.

    • December 15, 2015 at 3:23 pm
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      Please forward them to me, over here!

    • December 15, 2015 at 4:31 pm
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      Well, the majority of the reviews that I’m watching (Spoiler-free BTW) indicate quite contrary from what you said, unless of course they’re just people who are not into Star Wars very much and can’t see the charm of it.

      • December 15, 2015 at 4:34 pm
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        I’m referring to a couple people who went to the premiere — fans, not reviewers. If you dig you can find them; not posting here!

        • December 15, 2015 at 5:07 pm
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          Even so, they’re maybe too jaded from the franchise.

        • December 15, 2015 at 5:15 pm
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          Okey I just checked and i must dig really deep to find any negative criticism. Which didn’t say that movie is that amazing but is truly positive sign.

          • December 15, 2015 at 5:16 pm
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            There are …… discussions on reddit from people who have seen it. Don’t go there if you don’t want to be spoiled.

          • December 15, 2015 at 6:28 pm
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            From what I’ve seen, the reviewer is just a sad, old troll trying to get attention. Many users where deceived by said review but later some clever users stepped in, so there’s nothing to worry about.

          • December 15, 2015 at 6:39 pm
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            Whew hope you’re right !! His descriptions are convincing

          • December 15, 2015 at 8:36 pm
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            More like, pure bullshit.

        • December 16, 2015 at 5:32 am
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          Great. And you know what I love Godfather Part I and Godfather Part II. But I had a friend in college that didn’t like them. Couldn’t sit though them. Does that mean those two movies which are like top 10 of all time on a lot film lists sucks because it can’t hold the attention of some twenty something kid. How about everyone just see the deamn movie for themselves and form their own opinion like grown ups.

    • December 15, 2015 at 10:23 pm
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      Hm, but as EVERYBODY who was at the premiere has been requested to respect the embargo on reviews and ratings to go up no earlier than this night (or rather Wednesday at 00:01), what are those based on?

      • December 15, 2015 at 10:29 pm
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        Potential spoilerish …

        From what my radar is picking up, it seems like TFA is a giant rehash / greatest hits of the OT. That’s both good and bad … very safe. But JJ isn’t a very risky filmmaker which is probably why they chose him for this. They want tried and true, safe, etc, which is what I was worried about when they announced him.

        • December 15, 2015 at 10:39 pm
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          Well, I guess it makes sense to rather be on the safe side to regain confidence after the prequels … If this is a very good solid movie, then the next ones, and the things like Rogue one can explore more risky, interesting paths.

          • December 15, 2015 at 10:41 pm
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            True, from a marketing / please-as-many-people-as-possible standpoint, it makes sense … but I personally loathe that type of thinking. It’s why I hate hollywood.

          • December 15, 2015 at 10:46 pm
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            True enough yeah. That is why I am happy that our local theatre/cinema shows a boatload of non hollywood content. Some better than others, but many original ideas.

          • December 16, 2015 at 5:28 am
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            Cry Cry Cry. Movies were always products. Hollywood has always been like this. That’s why they call it the Movie Business. The idea is to make money so you can keep making movies. If all the formulaic garbage safe trash that you criticize was not around all you would have for movies are people’s crappy little youtube movies. It’s very hard to find people willing to put a few million let alone Hundreds of millions of dollars to produce and distribute a film without wanting any return on their investment. Maybe it might happen once or twice for the sake of art but eventually the investor will want to see a return on his investment. The Price of Art.

          • December 16, 2015 at 5:32 am
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            You’re wrong. Many of the great films have been made in the RARE instances where studio TOOK A CHANCE. I strongly disagree.

            I question what ‘great cinema’ is to someone like you. Probably The Avengers and Transformers. Well, there’s no shortage of those. Enjoy!

          • December 16, 2015 at 5:54 am
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            Original. It was a remake of a Kurosawa film, the hidden fortress and he just set in space and used Joseph Campbell’s a heroes journey as a template for the structure of the film along with borrowing many tropes from Flash Gordon serials, westerns, and Samurai films. It’s a mish mash and remix of stuff that has come before it. It’s not 100% original. Nothing is. You know Jaws was an adaption of a best selling novel. Most of your classic movies going back to the thirties and forties are based on IP, Wizard of Oz (novels), Maltese Falcon Novel, Godfather Novel, Apocalypse Now, Novel. Shawshank Redemption Novel. Die Hard novel, I could go down the list of the top 250 movies of all time in and most are based on best selling novels, IP. And please explain Riskier? What does that even mean? Having two butch lesbian leads in a star wars film?. But I’m guessing your talking about story. Well story doesn’t change and it always stays the same. What you call original someone might be like oh I seen that same exact story in another movie but the main character was little boy instead of a grown woman.

          • December 16, 2015 at 3:12 pm
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            This isn’t about being inspired by other movies, or stealing and borrowing to create a fresh new amalgam like what you just described; my concern is that it’s a rehash and remake of a movie within the same story. That to me is just lazy and safe. It’s one thing to adopt and disguise story elements and present them in a fresh new way; this is down-right copying without the disguise — hence, making it unoriginal and stale.

            ** SPOILERS **

            Case and point, Death Star 3.0. Seriously? We’ve done that twice already in this series. Twice. Been there, done that. Surely they could have come up with a more original concept, here. I don’t have a lot of interest in seeing another ‘trench-run, knock out the main reactor – blow up death star again … again.’

            Does that really excite you? I doubt it. It’s also one of the consistent gripes from all the reviews I’ve read — that this movie is more a less a carbon copy of ANH. I’m sure it will be fun, but man … you know, maybe it could have been GREAT. But they’ll settle for ‘good’ but good is safe and what people think they want.

    • December 15, 2015 at 5:30 pm
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      3 reviews? That´s nothing so far.

      • December 15, 2015 at 5:43 pm
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        It’s seems to me YOU”RE hoping this movie is bad!! Is it so that you’ve got some to complain about? >= (

        • December 15, 2015 at 5:55 pm
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          He’s just an idiot troll. Don’t feed him by responding.

        • December 15, 2015 at 6:06 pm
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          NO! How can you say it is massive good ratings when ONLY 3 PEOPLE OF THE WHOLE WORLD rated it?

    • December 15, 2015 at 5:50 pm
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      It’s had a 9.4 for months. That’s from the popularity of the production. Not that I hope it sucks, don’t get me wrong! 🙂

  • December 15, 2015 at 6:06 pm
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    I was at the premiere last night guys so I can judge if the star ratings are correct, but i won’t spoil it for people

    • December 15, 2015 at 6:07 pm
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      WTF they made games for 1st world kids to ‘unlock’ food for 3rd world kids…lmao what kind of world do we live in now?

    • December 15, 2015 at 6:07 pm
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      Is it true that Poe Dameron is gay? I´m serious, I wanna know just it

    • December 15, 2015 at 7:16 pm
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      Thank you. I still have two days before I get to see it.

      • December 16, 2015 at 2:19 am
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        rip chewie

  • December 15, 2015 at 6:59 pm
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    Well guys, I am reading full spoilers and I just can confirm that I was right the whole time. I already knew it. Now I just have to find a way to watch tomorrow´s Clippers’ game while waiting in the line for the opening…

    • December 15, 2015 at 7:22 pm
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      You were right the whole time? So? What’s your point?

      • December 15, 2015 at 7:27 pm
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        Hmmm… I don´t know. Just wanted to share.

        • December 15, 2015 at 7:33 pm
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          When are you seeing the movie? You think it has been spoiled for you already? I’ve read a lot of which I think could be the actual thing. But when I enter that movie theater tomorrow, I will still be as hyped as a 14 year old, getting his first kiss on the mouth (with tongue, that is)! Come on dude… Can’t you feel it? This will go on for another couple of years. I love the ride we all had together, since the first teaser trailer up until now. Looking forward to what’s coming next!

          • December 15, 2015 at 8:02 pm
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            You bet, dude, no problem! I´ll go 16/17th 00:00 AM opening session. Have fun!

          • December 15, 2015 at 8:53 pm
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            You too buddy! May the Force be with you!

        • December 17, 2015 at 3:00 pm
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          I shared your fear the whole time. I was extremely sceptical. The movie is 9/10.

    • December 15, 2015 at 8:08 pm
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      Where can we read these full spoilers?

    • December 15, 2015 at 9:39 pm
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      I doubt that…you have been crying this whole time it is a “reboot”, and a copy of A New Hope hating on star wars every day…but yet..here you are every day….and I also HIGHLY DOUBT you read any full spoilers. You have been putting this movie down for awhile now…say all of your horrible premonitions are true…but then say you are going to the opening????? LMFAO…you don’t know shit about this movie

      • December 17, 2015 at 2:58 pm
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        I have read the full spoilers, knew everything, were sad about it. Feared what to expect. Disagreed with some things in the movie. Pretty much the same way Agon was. Yet I totally loved the movie. I was in the cinema in the first third of the movie and already thinking how many times will I see it at home. This is not a one time watching movie. It is a classic. I would never believe to say this 14 hours ago.

  • December 16, 2015 at 12:48 am
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    Anyone know which theaters are showing 70mm prints?

    • December 16, 2015 at 1:22 am
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      here you go:

      McWane Center IMAX Dome Theatre – Birmingham, AL
      IMAX, U.S. Space & Rocket Center – Huntsville, AL
      Hackworth IMAX Dome, The Tech Museum – San Jose, CA
      Museum of Discovery & Science AutoNation IMAX – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
      IMAX Dome, Museum of Science & Industry – Tampa, FL
      IMAX, Indiana State Museum – Indianapolis, IN
      Blank IMAX Dome, Science Center of Iowa – Des Moines, IA
      Branson’s IMAX, Entertainment Complex – Branson, MO
      St. Louis Science Center OMNIMAX Theatre – St. Louis, MO
      Tuttleman IMAX, The Franklin Institute– Philadelphia, PA
      Kramer IMAX, Saskatchewan Science Centre – Regina, Canada
      Lockheed Martin IMAX, National Air & Space Museum, Washington DC
      Fort Worth Museum of Science & History – Fort Worth, TX

      LG IMAX, Darling Harbour – Sydney, Australia
      The Science Museum – London, England

      • December 16, 2015 at 4:13 am
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        Thank you!

  • December 16, 2015 at 2:28 am
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    One of the very few film series left where each entry is wildly financially successful, A great deal of them have bombs along the way. Even “the most anticipated film of the year” – Mockingjay did less well than previous films in that franchise.

  • December 17, 2015 at 2:53 pm
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    Saw it wednesday. I was one of those dissappointed by the plot and the twists. Was expecting a mediocre movie. I knew I would be pissed off after the movie. Well…..I wasn’ t. I still can’t believe it but….THE MOVIE IS FUCKING FANTASTIC!!!! It was far beyond my expectations. Can’t wait to see it again in three hours in Imax. Still in shock that I actually loved the movie…..

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