Star Wars: The Force Awakens becomes UK's highest-grossing film of 2015

Also surpassing Avatar to become the second highest-grossing film of all-time in the UK and Ireland box office

(AFP/Getty Images)

Daniel Craig will be pleased to learn he's in the highest-grossing film of 2015.

Thanks to his stormtrooper cameo (rumoured to be named JB-007), that is. Star Wars: The Force Awakens has surpassed Spectre to become the highest-grossing film of 2015 at the UK box office. Following the weekend's takings, the film has now earned £96.7M in Britain and Ireland, overtaking Spectre's £93.5M.

It's lurking close behind Craig's other big banking Bond outing, 2012's Skyfall, which currently holds the all-time UK box office record with £103M. The Force Awakens now holds second position, having surpassed Avatar's £94M; though there's not far to go to reach the top spot. 

For those devastated to see a British institution decimated by space battles, worry not; The Force Awakens can actually boast itself as being an integral part of the British film industry's recent output, with filming take place at Pinewood Studios and the Forest of Dean's Puzzlewood. Indeed, the production landed itself in the midst of a little controversy after it was discovered chancellor George Osborne was thanked in the film's credits, due to it being named as a British production for tax purposes. 

Here's the current list of the highest-grossing films at the UK and Ireland box office.

1. Skyfall (2012): £102.9M
2. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015): £97.6M
3. Avatar (2009): £94M
4. Spectre (2015): £92M
5. Titanic (1997): £80.1M
6. Toy Story 3 (2010): £74M
7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011): £73.1M
8. Mamma Mia! (2008): £68.5M
9. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001): £66.1M
10. Jurassic World (2015): £64.1M