To the surprise of no one, advance ticket sales for Star Wars: The Force Awakens have set a new record. Though Disney has not released figures, several theater chains and ticket services report that Star Wars accounted for 95% of all online sales in the past 24 hours. That tops a previous record set by The Hunger Games. And scalpers are already on eBay reselling their opening day tickets (IMAX 3D) for as much as $400 a piece.
UPDATE: IMAX reports that advance sales for opening weekend on 390 screens are $6.5 million, more than six times their previous record. TWO MONTHS before the movie opens.
Part of the big story here? Sales websites crashed. Harder than the one minute that Comic-Con tickets are available.
Even Fandango crashed. The Alamo Drafthouse theater chain posted a message of apology, saying that they had prepared for this moment for nine months and STILL went down. The chain funneled ticket sales to Fandango because that service got back on its feet faster.
Anecdotal reports say that theaters are adding screens and showtimes wherever possible. On December 18, you may find yourself at a multiplex with the only choice available being whether or not to see Star Wars in 3D.
Man, this had better not suck.
