Lakeport >> With the enormous appeal of the Star Wars franchise part of the culture since 1977, any new film arrives with enviable box office numbers. But the Force seems to be particularly strong for the newest entry.
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” the first in a new trilogy of films — with more to follow once a year, every year, indefinitely — under the ownership of Disney and the directorial helm of J.J. Abrams, topped $50 million in advanced sales. In major markets it has been reported ticket pre-sales are already sold out or close to selling out throughout the rest of the year. Fortunately for fans in Lake County, there are still a few tickets available.
According to Lakeport Cinema 5 General Manager Justin Hamaker, the theater still has some advance tickets available for all showings starting on Dec. 17 and scheduled through Dec. 22. It’s company policy, he stated, not to divulge ticket sale numbers, but he still expects the theater to do well.
“At this point I expect it’s going to be a pretty big turn out,” he said. “It’s a small town; it’s not going to be the same as big cities, sold out through the end of the year. When we do sell out it’s typically the day of the show.”
By offering the pre-sale of tickets, Hamaker said, theaters hope to satisfy fans’ demands “to make sure they can get their ticket as soon as possible for that first show opening weekend” without feeling compelled to camp out front of the theater doors. Assistant Manager Samantha Pfannmuller added there are some benefits for the theater as well.
“It helps us not be so overwhelmed at the premiere,” she said. “It helps the theaters all get prepared for the rush.”
Hamaker thinks that ticket sales are on track to an opening comparable to the 1999 release of “Star Wars Episode One: The Phantom Menace,” which saw lines of movie-going fans wrapped around the sides of theater complexes on the release date, Lakeport included. The original 1977 film drew news coverage for the lines it created.
The ticket company Fandango recently told Variety that The Force Awakens was already their largest pre-seller ever.
The biggest question for the movie’s success, according to Hamaker, is how the younger generation takes to it.
“I grew up on Star Wars; I’m definitely excited,” he said. “I’m not the type that dresses up and goes to conventions, but I’ve seen the original trilogy many, many times… I’m purposefully staying away from all the promos and trailers so nothing gets spoiled, and that’s kinda how I want to watch it.”
Tickets for Star Wars: The Force Awakens are on sale now at Lakeport Cinema 5 for show dates from Dec. 17 through Dec. 22. Ticket sales are also now available online through the theater’s website, lakeportcinema.com, a new service the cinema just introduced.
