Episode 7: The Force Finally Arrives (in China)

Chinese moviegoers in stormtrooper masks check their phones (presumably not for spoilers) as they wait for Star Wars: The Force Awakens to premiere on January 9, China the last of 82 countries to open the long-awaited seventh episode of cinema’s most popular franchise. Some movie analysts and industry observers had expressed concerns that the franchise would struggle to find traction in China, a country that has little history of Luke, Leia, Han, and the gang, but any doubts were quickly put to rest as the movie took in $53 million over its opening weekend.