'Star Wars' tops DiCaprio in 'Revenant' to stay No. 1

LOS ANGELES -- "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" stayed on top of the North American box office for the fourth straight weekend, beating out Leonardo DiCaprio in "The Revenant," and becoming the third-largest grossing movie in the world ever.

According to studio estimates Sunday, the adventures of Rey, Finn and stalwarts from the previous "Star Wars" films raked in $41.6 million in the U.S. and Canada and $104.3 million overseas, led by a record-breaking opening in China.

In the U.S. and Canada, it is the biggest movie ever and the first to pass $800 million, with $812 million so far.

Its global total now stands at $1.73 billion, according to The Walt Disney Co., passing "Jurassic World," with $1.67 billion.

The film now has in its sights No. 2 "Titanic," with its $2.2 billion box office haul in 1997-98, and No. 1 "Avatar," from 2009-2010 at $2.8 billion.

Its place as the all-time biggest movie is by no means assured, according to Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst with Rentrak.

"Avatar" had a smaller opening but kept ringing cash registers through awards season, something that won't be clear for "Star Wars" until the Golden Globes on Sunday night and Oscar nominations on Thursday.

"The Revenant," a gritty R-rated movie directed by Alejandro Inarritu about an 1820s frontiersman who gets mauled by a bear, blasted through expectations of about $25 million in its first weekend of wide release with a $38 million haul, following limited showings in New York and Los Angeles in December.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Rentrak.

Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released today.

1. "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," $41.6 million.

2. "The Revenant," $38 million.

3. "Daddy's Home," $15 million.

4. "The Forest," $13.1 million.

5. "Sisters," $7.2 million.

6. "The Hateful Eight," $6.4 million.

7. "The Big Short," $6.3 million.

8. "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip," $5.5 million.

9. "Joy," $4.5 million.

10. "Concussion," $3.1 million.