‘Star Wars’ Put Chinese Audiences To Sleep, But Imax Ticket Sales Were Still ‘Pretty Phenomenal’

LOS ANGELES — While it took the rest of the galaxy by storm, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" faced an uphill climb in China, whose moviegoers had less familiarity with the franchise when it opened there Saturday. And despite a massive PR push by the Walt Disney Co. — including placing 500 Stormtroopers on the Great Wall — the film's performance was lukewarm, with perhaps one saving grace: an outsized performance in Imax theaters.