‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ smashes ‘Harry Potter’ Thursday box office record

“Star Wars� fans were out in full force Thursday night.

The long-awaited seventh film in the space saga -- “Star Wars: The Force Awakens� -- collected a record-smashing $57 million in ticket sales Thursday night in the United States and Canada.

That tops the previous record holder, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Part 2,� which grossed $43.5 million from Thursday shows in July 2011.

FULL COVERAGE: ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’

Box office analysts went into the weekend expecting the new “Star Wars� from director J.J. Abrams to gross $180 million to $220 million through Sunday in its domestic opening weekend.

It remains to be seen if “The Force Awakens� will top the record $209 million that “Jurassic World� opened with in June.

Lines stretched around the block between Thursday showings of “The Force Awakens� at TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Pre-sales for the movie hit a staggering $100 million.

The film began its international rollout Wednesday and has grossed $72.7 million overseas so far, bringing its global cumulative box office to $130 million.

Twitter: @rfaughnder

MORE:

Carrie Fisher thinks slave Leia bikini haters are asinine

Harrison Ford on reuniting with Han’s blaster, and forgiving Lawrence Kasdan for the Ewoks

J.J. Abrams on going old school and how ‘Star Wars’ differs from ‘Star Trek’

Star Wars screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan on the past, present and future of ‘Star Wars’

The women of ‘Star Wars’ speak out about their new Empire

The harsh reality of building a ‘Star Wars’ fantasy in Abu Dhabi