‘Last Jedi’ Is 2017’s Box Office Winner in a Women-Led Year<br />Rather, the three most popular movies at theaters in the United States and Canada in 2017 — “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Wonder Woman” — were each driven by female characters, something<br />that has not happened in at least 37 years, as far back as full box office data is available.<br />The top comedy of the year, “Girls Trip,” was also anchored by women, as was the top film to play in limited release, “Lady Bird.”<br />Between Friday and Sunday, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” (Walt Disney Studios) collected an estimated $52.4 million to become the No.<br />“The Last Jedi,” directed by Rian Johnson, includes prominent male characters like Luke Skywalker.<br />Overseas, “The Last Jedi” has taken in an additional $523.3 million and has yet to arrive in China, the world’s second-largest movie market.<br />But the film belongs to a quartet of impressive women — Rey, General Leia, Rose Tico and Vice Admiral Holdo — so much so<br />that online trolls and some franchise purists have whined.<br />The live-action remake of “Beauty and the Beast,” with Emma Watson as the warbling Belle, collected $504 million at domestic theaters.
