The new Star Wars film, due for release this December, is expected to make around $2.2 billion globally, according to a Wall Street analyst.
The analyst at the investment firm Stifel Nicolaus recently raised his price target on Disney shares to $130, according to CNBC. The film, “Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens,” will capitalize on the increasing popularity of 3D and IMAX screens in the United States, and increasing interest in movie theaters abroad, the analyst said.
Despite flagging American interest in going to the movies, global box office sales are expected to be buoyed by Chinese moviegoers. According to the Stifel analyst, China could account for one-fifth of revenues for the Star Wars film. In the five years ending 2014, Chinese box office revenue grew 427%.
If analysts are correct, the movie could earn a spot on the list of top-grossing movies of all time. It could even surpass “Jurassic World,” which made more than $1.5 billion worldwide. At $2.2 billion in revenues, the Star Wars film would come second only to “Avatar” (2009), which grossed close to $2.8 billion thanks to record international interest.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- How Donald Trump Won
- The Best Inventions of 2024
- Why Sleep Is the Key to Living Longer
- How to Break 8 Toxic Communication Habits
- Nicola Coughlan Bet on Herself—And Won
- What It’s Like to Have Long COVID As a Kid
- 22 Essential Works of Indigenous Cinema
- Meet TIME's Newest Class of Next Generation Leaders
Contact us at letters@time.com