UPDATE | 'Force Awakens' on path for record $200M-plus weekend

NEW YORK (AP) — "The Force Awakens" fever spread through movie theaters around the globe today, even reaching the White House, as "Star Wars" yet again began toppling box-office records with waves of light saber-wielding fans.

After a record $57 million from Thursday night showings in North America, and packed matinees today, the Walt Disney Co. forecast that "The Force Awakens" will surpass $200 million on the weekend and possibly best the record domestic opening of "Jurassic World," which debuted with $208.8 million in June.

Such an outcome would surprise few analysts, but the numbers were nevertheless eye-popping. "The Force Awakens" was heading toward a take today of more than $100 million domestically, said Dave Hollis, head of distribution for Disney. That would surpass the one-day high of $91.1 million set by "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2" in 2011.

In such rarified territory, Disney has been cautious about overestimating the box-office force of J.J. Abrams' seventh chapter in George Lucas' space saga. Disney's biggest worry has been that moviegoers will be too daunted by sold-out shows and long lines. Hollis has repeatedly reminded that "there are literally millions of tickets available."

The international rollout for the film, made for about $200 million, has already brought in an estimated total of $72.7 million since opening in a handful of countries Wednesday. "The Force Awakens" is simultaneously opening around the world just about everywhere but China, where it debuts in January.