'The Last Jedi' rakes in $450.8mn worldwide in opening    

LOS ANGELES - AFP

"Star Wars: The Last Jedi," the latest episode in the blockbuster space saga, has raked in more than $450 million worldwide since hitting theaters, Disney said on Dec. 18, a major success for the most-hyped movie of the year.

The film directed by Rian Johnson, which features the late Carrie Fisher's final performance as Princess Leia, took in $220 million in North America, and another $230.8 million overseas, a Disney spokesman said.

It was the fifth biggest global box office debut in history, the company said.

It was also the second biggest opening in US history and in December -- only behind "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" -- the opener of the saga's sequel trilogy that took $248 million on its debut weekend.

"The Last Jedi" sees the return of the characters introduced in "The Force Awakens" with Rey (Daisy Ridley) looking to Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) to teach her about The Force.

In second place was "Ferdinand," a computer-animated comedy about a bull with a big heart often mistaken for a dangerous beast, which took $13 million on what was also its debut weekend, according to preliminary industry figures.

The top five was rounded out by "Coco," a colorful Pixar movie set in Mexico, feel-good film "Wonder" and Warner Bros. superhero feature "Justice League."