Star Wars races past $1 billion in record time

Star Wars: The Force Awakens has smashed yet another box office record after crossing the $1 billion mark in just 12 days.

Disney's sci-fi epic officially passed the milestone on Sunday (27Dec15), when it sailed past the previous record set by Jurassic World, which took 13 days to haul in $1 billion back in June (15).

The feat is all the more impressive as the new Star Wars sequel has yet to open in China, the world's second-largest movie market, according to The Associated Press. It will be released there on 9 January (16).

The film, directed by J.J. Abrams and starring Harrison Ford, Adam Driver, John Boyega and Daisy Ridley, also set a new Christmas Day record for North America, raking in $49.3 million on Friday (25Dec15).

That figure bests the one set by director Guy Ritchie's movie Sherlock Holmes, which scored a $24.6 million haul on Christmas Day in 2009.

The continued popularity of Star Wars: The Force Awakens has also helped Abrams' film secure the best second-weekend earnings in North American box office history, with a $153.5 million gross over the festive period (25-27Dec15). The sci-fi blockbuster landed the biggest opening weekend with $238 million following its release on 18 December (15).

Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell's new comedy Daddy's Home debuts in a distant second place with $38.8 million, while Jennifer Lawrence's drama Joy is new at three with $17.5 million, according to early studio estimates.