Star Wars spin-off Rogue One has taken over €1.4m at the Irish box office since it opened last Thursday to become the biggest opening of 2016.
Since Thursday, an estimated 63 per cent of Irish audiences have pledged their allegiance to the Rebellion, with the Gareth Edwards-directed adventure also the second biggest December opening in Irish cinema history, behind last year's Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Worldwide, Rogue One has already taken over $290m.
Speaking to RTÉ Entertainment last week in London ahead of his film's premiere, Edwards said he cried when Star Wars creator George Lucas gave him the nod of approval after he viewed the first of the planned anthology movies.
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"To me, the most important Star Wars aficionado, if I'm honest, is George Lucas," said Edwards.
"He watched the film about a week ago and I was very nervous. I didn't know when it was going to happen. It was an open invitation and he loved it and he said some very nice things and it was hard not to tear up.
"It wasn't until I heard his response that I realised that was all that I wanted from this film. Whatever it does at the box office, whatever happens, it's just a bonus."
In other box office news, the Lenny Abrahamson-directed Room has been named the No. 1 Irish film for 2016, taking in €1.3m in box office receipts in Ireland over it's 16-week cinema run.
The film, which saw star Brie Larson take home the Oscar for Best Actress at the 2016 ceremony, grossed $20.74m worldwide.
Producer Ed Guiney said of the news, "We’re delighted that Room won over audiences not just in Ireland but worldwide and that it went on to become the No. 1 Irish film released in cinemas here this year.
"It’s a real testament to the entire team that worked incredibly hard on bringing Room to the big screen."
