Star Wars becomes highest grossing US moviepublished at 13:45
Star Wars: The Force Awakens has become the highest grossing film of all time in the North American market. Takings have sailed beyond the $760.5m taken by the 2009 film Avatar, according to Walt Disney.
Worldwide, Star Wars has taken $1.6bn, still well short of Avatar's $2.8bn.
International takings should be boosted by the movie's opening in China on 9 January.