'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' explodes with $220M, the second-best opening ever

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Before you head out to see the new movie, here's a recap of where the saga left off with 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens.' USA TODAY

NEW YORK — Star Wars: The Last Jedi rocketed to a debut of $220 million at the box office, landing the second-best opening weekend ever in North America and slotting in behind only its predecessor, The Force Awakens.

The Disney blockbuster is only the fourth film to open with more than $200 million in North America. Aside from The Force Awakens, the others are The Avengers and Jurassic World.

Good reviews helped it. Rian Johnson's successor to The Force Awakens has a 93% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences endorsed it too, giving it an A on CinemaScore.

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'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' premiere photos

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He's the last Jedi. No, she is! 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' stars Mark Hamill and Daisy Ridley goof off on the carpet during the world premiere of their film in Los Angeles Saturday.  Matt Winkelmeyer, Getty Images

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Replica props, including an AT-M6 Walker, are displayed at the entrance of the 'Star Wars' premiere.  Ethan Miller, Getty Images

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The 'Last Jedi' squad! Andy Serkis, Laura Dern, Benicio del Toro, Kelly Marie Tran, Adam Driver, Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Gwendoline Christie get together for a funny group photo.  Jesse Grant, Getty Images for Disney

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Look out! Stormtroopers also walked the carpet.  Jean-Baptiste Lacroix, AFP/Getty Images

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Newcomer Kelly Marie Tran said on the carpet that she couldn't stop crying, because she was so grateful to be in 'The Last Jedi.'  Ethan Miller, Getty Images

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Billie Lourd, who stars in 'The Last Jedi,' is the daughter of late Princess Leia star Carrie Fisher.  Jon Kopaloff, FilmMagic

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John Boyega was worried about missing the premiere, because of snow delays in Atlanta. But he made it!  Ethan Miller, Getty Images

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Benicio del Toro plays a new character, DJ, who may be good or may be bad.  Eugene Garcia, EPA-EFE

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Laura Dern's purple-haired character, Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo, is new to the franchise.  Eugene Garcia, EPA-EFE

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Fun to be bad? Domhnall Gleeson (General Hux) and Kelly Marie Tran (Rose Tico) pose with the Praetorian Guard at the premiere.  Jesse Grant, Getty Images for Disney

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Joonas Suotamo, a former Penn State basketball player, takes over the role of Chewie in 'The Last Jedi.'  Ethan Miller, Getty Images

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Rey actress Daisy Ridley truly is a star.  Ethan Miller, Getty Images

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Anthony Daniels and writer/director Rian Johnson can clearly lean on each other.  Ethan Miller, Getty Images

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Adam Driver, here with wife Joanne Tucker, gets plenty of screen time as the conflicted Kylo Ren.  Eugene Garcia, EPA-EFE

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Andy Serkis, who plays Supreme Leader Snoke, had a much more genial presence on the carpet than his alter ego did in the film.  Jesse Grant, Getty Images for Disney

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Longtime droid pals R2-D2 and C-3PO walked the red carpet.  Ethan Miller, Getty Images

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Gwendoline Christie, who plays Captain Phasma, certainly wore a dress that fit the "Star Wars chic" dress code.  Ethan Miller, Getty Images

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Lupita Nyong'o returns as the bifocaled Maz Kanata.  Eugene Garcia, EPA-EFE

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Filmmaker Jon Favreau.  Jean-Baptiste Lacroix, AFP/Getty Images

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'The Force Awakens' director J.J. Abrams and wife Katie McGrath.  Eugene Garcia, EPA-EFE

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'Scrubs' co-stars Zach Braff and Donald Faison.  Jeff Kravitz, FilmMagic

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Minnie Driver and Henry Story Driver.  Rich Polk, Getty Images for Disney

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Believe it or not: Ewok actor Warwick Davis thinks porgs might actually be better than Ewoks.  Ethan Miller, Getty Images

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Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee.  Rich Polk, Getty Images for Disney

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'Last Jedi' co-stars John Boyega and Kelly Marie Tran seem to have a bond offscreen like their characters do in the movie.  Jesse Grant, Getty Images for Disney

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Chadwick Boseman.  Jesse Grant, Getty Images for Disney

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Thumbs way up! Lupita Nyong'o, Joonas Suotamo, John Boyega and Kelly Marie Tran smile on the carpet, and show off their height difference.  Jesse Grant, Getty Images for Disney

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Mark Hamill, aka Luke Skywalker, poses in front of ... himself.  Ethan Miller, Getty Images

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Peter Mayhew, the original Chewbacca, was there.  Ethan Miller, Getty Images

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Joe Manganiello and Sofia Vergara.  Ethan Miller, Getty Images

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Taran Killam had an appropriate sweater for the occasion.  Ethan Miller, Getty Images

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Cobie Smulders.  Ethan Miller, Getty Images

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Meredith Salenger and Patton Oswalt.  Ethan Miller, Getty Images

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The weekend's only other new wide release, the animated Ferdinand, about a gentle bull voiced by John Cena, grossed $13.3 million and finished second.

More: What's going on with Kylo Ren and Rey in 'The Last Jedi'?

Also: Kelly Marie Tran makes history as 'Last Jedi' mechanic Rose Tico

Review: Stellar 'Star Wars'  throws a few twists into the space opera

The rest of the top five: Pixar's Day of the Dead movie Coco (No. 3, $10 million); Wonder (No. 4, $5.4 million), starring Julia Roberts and Jacob Tremblay; and DC Films' superhero team-up Justice League (No. 5, $4.2 million).

Final numbers are expected Monday.

Contributing: Kim Willis

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Daisy Ridley's Rey and Adam Driver's Kylo Ren are front and center, alongside co-stars Mark Hamill, John Boyega and the late Carrie Fisher, in the new trailer for 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi.' Lucasfilm