Early praise for the newest instalment of "Star Wars" gave a boost to shares of Walt Disney and Electronic Arts, which recently launched a videogame based on the hugely popular space opera.
Following prequels between 1999 and 2005 that were widely seen as disappointing compared to the original trilogy that began in 1977, fans at the premiere of "The Force Awakens" on late on Monday said the magic was back.
On Tuesday, shares of Walt Disney rose 3.75 percent while Electronic Arts, which last month released its "Star Wars Battlefront" videogame after three years of development, jumped 5.26 percent.
"Healthy chatter after the industry premiere last night in Los Angeles may have motivated some traders," said JBL Advisors analyst Jeffrey Logsdon, who covers Disney.
Creator George Lucas sold the "Star Wars" franchise to Disney in 2012 for some $4 billion and the newest instalment opens in most countries this week.
It could gross $2.8 billion worldwide, Logsdon wrote in a note to clients. That would put it in the same league as all-time top grosser Avatar, distributed by Fox in 2009.
Reviews of the movie are embargoed until Wednesday and analysts will have a reasonable idea of its money-making potential after its first weekend.
Movie theatre operators Regal Entertainment Group and AM Entertainment Holdings were up 3.1 percent and 5.9 percent, respectively. Car mike Cinemas gained 2.9 percent.
Electronic Arts' first-person shooter has received less-than-stellar reviews and retailer Game Stop last week cut its price for the product.
PHOTO: World premiere of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"
But the movie's long-awaited debut is expected to fuel demand from die-hard Star Wars fans both young and middle-aged, with Electronic Arts estimating it will sell 13 million units for the fiscal year ending March 2016.
That could account for almost a quarter of DEA's revenue during the second half of the year but such a target could be at risk if the movie does not resonate with fans, said Oppenheimer analyst Sean McGowan.
"It's hard to make a case that the game will get a lift from the movie if people don't like the movie," McGowan said. "And if people come out of the movie feeling good about it, they're more likely to buy the game."
Also helping shares of Disney on Tuesday was an announcement it would launch an over-the-top content service in China with Albia.
Shares of Electronic Arts have gained 56 percent in 2015 while Disney has climbed 20 percent.
Reuters
Wed Dec 16 2015
![Early praise for Star Wars awakens the Force in shares of Disney, EA Early praise for Star Wars awakens the Force in shares of Disney, EA](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-12/71450239429_StarWars.jpg)
On Tuesday, shares of Walt Disney rose 3.75 percent while Electronic Arts, which last month released its "Star Wars Battlefront" videogame after three years of development, jumped 5.26 percent. - AFP Photo
![Parlimen Thailand pilih Perdana Menteri baharu esok Parlimen Thailand pilih Perdana Menteri baharu esok](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723695263_TBSretthaThavisin.jpg)
Parlimen Thailand pilih Perdana Menteri baharu esok
Parlimen Thailand akan bersidang pada Jumaat ini bagi mengadakan mesyuarat khas memilih perdana menteri baharu susulan keputusan mahkamah yang menyingkirkan Srettha Thavisin pada Rabu.
5 kematian akibat komplikasi denggi pada ME ke 31 dilaporkan
Jumlah kes demam denggi Pada Minggu Epidemiologi ke-31 tahun 2024 dilaporkan sebanyak 2,515 kes berbanding 2,609 kes pada minggu sebelumnya.
[TERKINI] Fahmi nafi arah Google nyahaktif ciri graf penukar ringgit
Menjawab tuduhan seorang pengguna X, Ahli Parlimen Lembah Pantai itu menerusi platform sama menegaskan beliau tidak pernah mengarahkan penyedia perkhidmatan itu berbuat demikian.
![Wanita dan kanak-kanak maut dalam nahas kereta, MPV di Kuala Kangsar Wanita dan kanak-kanak maut dalam nahas kereta, MPV di Kuala Kangsar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723694795_KemalanganMaut.jpg)
Wanita dan kanak-kanak maut dalam nahas kereta, MPV di Kuala Kangsar
Dua maut selepas kereta dinaiki terlibat dalam kemalangan dengan sebuah MPV jenis Toyota Velfire di Jalan Kuala Kangsar-Manong.
[TERKINI] Bapa terima baik kehilangan Nidza Afham
Mokhtar Mahmud, bapa kepada penyanyi Muhammad Nidza Afham redha dengan pemergian Allahyarham yang disahkan meninggal dunia selepas jasadnya ditemui terapung di jambatan Sungai Klang pada petang Rabu.
Pantau Belanjawan: Kelestarian: Memperkukuh ekosistem ekonomi hijau
Pengarah Urusan Gading Kencana, Datuk Ir Guntor Tobeng mengulas berkenaan usaha Malaysia memperkukuh ekosistem ekonomi hijau, di sebalik cabaran global serta peluang masa hadapan.
[TERKINI] Belasungkawa: Nidza Afham dikebumikan di Puncak Alam
Jenazah penyanyi Nidza Afham Mokhtar, 23, yang ditemukan meninggal dunia di Sungai Klang, akan dikebumikan di Tanah Perkuburan Islam, Puncak Alam, Selangor, pada Khamis.
![EON Berhad mahu dikenali sebagai penyedia perkhidmatan automotif menyeluruh EON Berhad mahu dikenali sebagai penyedia perkhidmatan automotif menyeluruh](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723694796_EON.jpg)
EON Berhad mahu dikenali sebagai penyedia perkhidmatan automotif menyeluruh
EON Berhad sedang memposisikan diri sebagai lebih daripada sekadar penyedia kereta, dengan berkembang menjadi penyedia perkhidmatan kereta secara menyeluruh.
![Suspek bunuh Cikgu Istiqomah dijangka didakwa Isnin Suspek bunuh Cikgu Istiqomah dijangka didakwa Isnin](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723694255_AshariAbuSamah.jpg)
Suspek bunuh Cikgu Istiqomah dijangka didakwa Isnin
Suspek kes pembunuhan guru wanita Istiqomah Ahmad Rozi, 33, di Melaka dijangka didakwa di mahkamah selewat-lewatnya Isnin depan.
![Lelaki tolak isteri jatuh gaung didakwa esok Lelaki tolak isteri jatuh gaung didakwa esok](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723693423_TBTOLAKISTERI.jpg)
Lelaki tolak isteri jatuh gaung didakwa esok
Suspek kes pukul dan tolak isteri ke dalam gaung di Kilometer 31.2 Jalan Raya Timur Barat (JRTB) Gerik-Jeli dekat Gerik, Julai lalu akan didakwa di mahkamah pada Jumaat.
![EA umum akan buang 5% tenaga kerja EA umum akan buang 5% tenaga kerja](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/41709180147_TBEAjpg.jpg)
EA umum akan buang 5% tenaga kerja
Dengan langkah ini, EA akan lebih memfokuskan kepada beberapa IP utama yang dimiliki mereka, termasuk memfokuskan sukan dan juga komuniti dalam talian.
![Wajah FIFA19: EA 'tendang' Ronaldo, gantikan dengan tiga wajah ini Wajah FIFA19: EA 'tendang' Ronaldo, gantikan dengan tiga wajah ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-02/61550541622_TBPSFIFA.jpg)
Wajah FIFA19: EA 'tendang' Ronaldo, gantikan dengan tiga wajah ini
Syarikat pembangun e-sukan, Electronic Arts (EA) menggantikan bintang bola sepak, Christiano Ronaldo sebagai muka hadapan permainan FIFA 19 dengan muka baharu.
![FIFA 19: 2 minggu selepas 'disekat' EA, Shige kini kembali beraksi FIFA 19: 2 minggu selepas 'disekat' EA, Shige kini kembali beraksi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-02/61550234866_TBBoonShin.jpg)
FIFA 19: 2 minggu selepas 'disekat' EA, Shige kini kembali beraksi
Pemain profesional FIFA 19 tanah air, Boon Shin (Shige), 28, akhirnya mampu beraksi selepas akaunnya dikembalikan oleh pembangun e-sukan tersebut, Electronic Arts (EA).