Star Wars: The Force Awakens Helps Drive Domestic Box Office Past Record $11 Billion

The domestic box office has surpassed $11 billion in 2015, thanks to a last-minute cash infusion from the massive success of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Of course, even before Star Wars, there were mega-hits like Jurassic World and Furious 7 ranking as some of the highest-grossing films of all time.

Still, the $11.1 billion projected earnings will make 2015 the biggest year ever for the North American box office, according to Deadline.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens, directed by J.J. Abrams from a screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan & Abrams, features a cast including actors John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong'o, Gwendoline Christie, Crystal Clarke, Pip Andersen, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow. They will join the original stars of the saga, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens hit theaters December 18, 2015, kicking off a new trilogy of Saga films as Episodes VIII and IX are already scheduled. The film garnered a record $247 million at the domestic box office and $529 million globally in its opening weekend.