Star Wars 3 Breaks Single Day Box Office Record

Well, it is no shock to this long-time Star Wars fan, but it appears to be a shock to everyone else. Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith has broken the single-day box office record set by Shrek 2. I remember the dreams of some in Fox when Episode 1 came out anticipated a $100 million opening weekend. The Phantom Menace missed that goal, but it appears Episode 3 is on track to surpass it by quite a bit.

After starting the day with $16,912,367 from midnight shows alone Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith closed Thursday with $50,013,859 from an estimated 9,400 screens at 3,661 theaters. That's the biggest day ever for a single movie in history.
Shrek 2 previously held the single day record with $44.8 million on its fourth day of release, a Saturday last May, while Spider-Man 2 had the opening day record at $40.4 million, posted on June 30 of last year. Revenge of the Sith soared past them both with a gross beyond the rosiest of industry expectations.

Is it an irony that the darkest Star Wars film may be the most profitable? Is it a sign that the Dark Side is stronger? "No! Quicker, easier, more seductive it is," to paraphrase a unnamed green source.