The Force is with SA

Star Wars: The Force Awakens has broken the record for the biggest opening in South African Box Office history, replacing the previous title holder, Marvel’s Iron Man 3.

The film grossed R4 726 865 on Wednesday 16 December, its first day of release, with over 70 000 fans flocking to cinemas.

“We are thrilled at the reception South African fans have given Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” says Christine Service, Senior Vice President and Country Manager of The Walt Disney Company Africa. “As the next instalment in the Star Wars saga, the release of this film means that every generation will now have their own Star Wars story to experience.”

Fans across the globe have embraced the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, with many holding their own celebratory fan events – South Africa included. Star Wars fans of every age met at Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton, Johannesburg, to celebrate the film’s release in cosplay style.

Lucasfilm and visionary director J.J. Abrams has joined forces to take fans back again to a galaxy far, far away as Star Wars returns to the big screen with Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The film stars Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Max Von Sydow. Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk are producing with Tommy Harper and Jason McGatlin serving as executive producers. The screenplay is written by Lawrence Kasdan & J.J. Abrams and Michael Arndt. Star Wars: The Force Awakens is now playing across South African cinemas in all formats.