Star Wars: The Force Awakens still has a way to go to beat A New Hope at the box-office

Episode IV is still the third highest grossing film of all time, adjusted for inflation

The original Star Wars poster (Disney/Lucasfilm)

Everyone seems to be focussing on whether Star Wars: The Force Awakens will beat Avatar at the box-office, but there’s a much bigger landmark to beat first: the first Star Wars film.

The original film, released in 1977 to little previous fanfare, was a gigantic success, making over $775.4 million at the box office.

Yes, you’re right, The Force Awakens has already made $1.39 billion globally, surpassing the original film, and on track to beat Avatar's US domestic run.

But if we adjust the figures for inflation, Star Wars - later subtitled A New Hope - has made $2.825 billion globally at the box office: more than double Episode VII.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, in America alone, A New Hope made $1.3 billion on its first theatrical run adjusted, going up to $1.5 billion after re-releases.

JJ Abrams’ latest film has ‘only’ made $686.4 million in the US, behind both The Phantom Menace ($730.4 million) and Return of the Jedi ($697.3 million), adjusted for inflation.

So, as we all praise our Disney overlords (they own Star Wars nowadays, in case you didn’t know) for selling millions of cinema tickets, remember, The Force Awakens still hasn’t done as well as A New Hope.

Will it eventually overtake the original film? Box Office experts believe that, with the global market, it possibly could take more worldwide. The top grossing films adjusted for inflation are as follows: Gone with the Wind, Avatar, Star Wars, Titanic, The Sound of Music.

The Force Awakens is in cinemas now.