'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' Projected For Over $425 Million Global Opening Weekend

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is gearing about to become a force at the box office.

The eighth installment of the Skywalker saga is expected to make its mark opening weekend, with the latest projections have Episode XIII nabbing $425 million worldwide. The number includes an over $200 million haul in the United States, alone.

For comparison, Star Wars: The Force Awakens grabbed $281 million internationally, with $247.9 million domestically adding to its worldwide opening of $529 million. Star Wars: The Last Jedi runs for 14 more minutes than Star Wars: The Force Awakens, with 150 minutes as opposed to Episode XII's 136 minutes.

The only film opening against The Last Jedi is Ferdinand, which targets a much younger demographic with the animated film borrowing voices from John Cena, Kate McKinnon, and Bobby Canavale. The 20th Century Fox and Blue Sky Studios film is projected for up to $20 million.

Much of the cast of the original Star Wars trilogy returns for The Last Jedi, as they did with The Force Awakens. Rian Johnson steps in to direct the new film, with J.J. Abrams having directed the first installment of the new trilogy and being poised to return for the final installment.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi hits theaters on December 15, 2017.

(via THR)