Star Wars 7 Breaks Thursday Night Movie Opening Record With $57 Million [UPDATE]

[UPDATE] According to new box office estimates posted by Variety, The Force Awakens could pull in at least $225 million in the US during its opening weekend. That would be an all-time record, surpassing Jurassic World ($208.4 million) earlier this year. The Force Awakens is also estimated to have generated $125 million in Friday night ticket sales, easily surpassing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2's previous record of $91 million.

The original story is below.

To the surprise of no one, Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens has broken the record for a Thursday night movie opening. According to the Wall Street Journal, it grossed $57 million combined in the United States and Canada overnight.

The previous record for a Thursday night opening was held by the final Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows - Part 2. That movie grossed $43.5 million on its Thursday night opening, though the comparison isn't perfect. As the WSJ notes, that movie opened at midnight, whereas the first showings for The Force Awakens started at 7 PM.

This news follows this morning's that the film had already broken records in international markets, where it's been in theaters since Wednesday. In the 12 markets where it opened early, the movie earned $14.1 million, followed by $14.3 million more during its first day in the United Kingdom.

The Force Awakens is expected to top most, if not every box office record in the US. That includes the biggest first-day opening ever, which would require besting Deathly Hallows - Part 2's $91 million. (Keep in mind, North American pre-sales topped $50 million in November.) Beyond that, it could set the record for biggest opening weekend ever, a record held by Jurassic World ($208.8 million).