What backlash? 'The Last Jedi' just crossed $1 billion at the box office

While the rest of the world was off ringing in the New Year, Star Wars: The Last Jedi was busy crossing an important landmark.

Actually, make that two.

Less than three weeks after its debut, The Last Jedi has officially crossed the $1 billion mark at the worldwide box office. As of writing, its total is up to $1.04 billion, according to Box Office Mojo.

Only Beauty and the Beast and The Fate of the Furious did better globally in 2017, with $1.26 and $1.24 billion, respectively. (Despicable Me 3 lags just behind with $1.03 billion.)

The Last Jedi's domestic performance was arguably even more impressive. With $517 million in the till, it's edged out Beauty and the Beast to become the highest-grossing movie of the year in the U.S.

Which makes 2017 the third year in a row that a Star Wars movie has come out on top at the American box office. Solo, you're up this year.

While The Last Jedi has proven to be more polarizing among fans than The Force Awakens, it's clear that none of the argument has hurt the movie at the box office.

It's true that The Last Jedi's numbers are falling short of The Force Awakens'. But that was always to be expected. The Force Awakens had novelty working in its favor, as the first Star Wars movie in nearly a decade; The Last Jedi is our third Star Wars movie in three years.

The Last Jedi started strong, with a $220 million opening weekend – the biggest of the year – and it's shown no signs of slowing down. It's now within a stone's throw of Rogue One's figures ($532 million domestic and $1.056 billion worldwide).

Any way you slice it, The Last Jedi is putting in a stellar performance.