LOS ANGELES (AFP) - The latest episode in Disney's mammothly popular Star Wars series has passed the US$1 billion (S$1.3 billion) mark in worldwide revenues in just three weeks, a Disney spokesperson said on Sunday (Dec 31).

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is expected to take in an estimated US$65.6 million for the four-day holiday weekend in North America, for a total US$530.3 million total since it opened there three weeks ago, said industry watcher Exhibitor Relations.

That comes on top of an estimated US$523 million taken in internationally by this eighth Star Wars episode. The blockbuster space saga stars Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver and two members of the series' original cast, Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker and the late Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia.

Those numbers would make the film the eighth highest-grossing domestic movie of all time, according to Variety.com. The record to beat remains 2009's Avatar, which netted US$2.7 billion.

Over this holiday weekend, Last Jedi edged out Sony's Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle, a family adventure starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, expected to rake in US$67 million over the extended weekend in North America.

In third was Pitch Perfect 3 from Universal, at US$22.7 million. The cast, led by Anna Kendrick, follows the continuing adventures of glee singers the Bellas.

Next was The Greatest Showman, from Fox, at US$20.3 million. The musical features Hugh Jackman as legendary circus impresario PT Barnum.

And in fifth spot was the animated family feature Ferdinand, the story of a peaceful Spanish bull forced to take on the world's most famous bullfighter. The Fox film netted US$15.2 million.

Rounding out the top 10 were: Coco (US$8.8 million) Darkest Hour (US$7.4 million) All The Money In The World (US$7.2 million) Downsizing (US$6.0 million) and Father Figures (US$5.5 million).