The first standalone "Star Wars" movie, "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," is proving to live up to the hype.
In its Thursday preview screenings the movie took in $29 million, according to The Hollywood Reporter, the largest Thursday earner of the year. Yes, beating out "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" ($27.7 million) and "Captain America: Civil War" ($25 million).
Opening in over 4,000 screens in North America beginning Friday, the movie is projected to earn between $135 million and $150 million over the weekend.
That would give the movie the third best opening of the year, behind "Batman v Superman" ($166 million) and "Captain America: Civil War" ($179 million).
Though Rogue One" is expecting a big figure, it won't come close to what "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" made last year.
The seventh episode in the "Star Wars" saga took in $57 million in its Thursday preview and went on to earn a record-breaking $247.9 million domestically in its opening weekend.
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