Star Wars Episode 7 - The Force Awakens Smashes IMAX Pre-Sales Record

There's still just under two months to go until it is finally released, but Star Wars Episode 7 - The Force Awakens is already breaking records. Pre-sales to IMAX performances of the upcoming sci-fi blockbuster have gone through the roof, shattering every previous figure by some distance.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, a colossal $6.5 million worth of IMAX tickets were sold in 24 hours, more than six times what the likes of The Dark Knight Rises, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, and The Avengers had achieved in a single day.

Greg Foster, CEO of IMAX Entertainment, spoke of the incredible success of the film on his company's large-format screens. "The only words to describe the first day of IMAX worldwide advance ticket sales for Star Wars: The Force Awakens are 'record-shattering'," he said. “We're seeing sell-outs across the board--from Hollywood to London, to Sparks, Nevada, and everywhere in between."

Ticketing agency Fandago have also confirmed a new pre-sale record, with more than eight times as many tickets shifted for The Force Awakens as for the previous record holder, the first Hunger Games movie. Similarly, AMC and MovieTickets.com have reported record-breaking sales. This was despite the fact that many fans experienced delays as online sales systems struggled to cope with the demand.

The latest trailer for The Force Awakens has now been released and can be viewed here. The film is directed by JJ Abrams and stars John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Max von Sydow, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill.