It’s enough to make a Porg smile: Irvine theater is first in ‘Last Jedi’ opening ticket sales

Edwards Irvine Spectrum Center 21 attracted more moviegoers than any theater in North America for the Dec. 14-15 opening of “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.”

Including presale, the theater sold the most two-day opening tickets, according to analytics company comScore.

“We’re traditionally in the top echelon for blockbuster films,” said Blake Windal, general manager of Irvine Spectrum Center. “We expected to perform very well, and we were prepping for the masses, but we’re surprised to be No. 1.”

Windal said he didn’t know exactly how many tickets were sold to make Spectrum No. 1, and a spokesperson for Regal Entertainment Group, which owns Edwards, was out of the office until Jan. 2.

Windal said the cinema most likely reached the No. 1 spot because of the center’s attractions, restaurants, stores and accessibility for shoppers to purchase holiday gifts and see the anticipated Disney film.

The theater recently added a new luxury wing with plush recliners, seat-side service, reserved seating and a lounge.

Edwards Irvine Spectrum promoted the movie with a DJ and star tracker lights spotlighting cosplaying fans.

Edwards Irvine Spectrum is one of the top-grossing theaters in the nation with 5,153 seats, 21 screens, an eight-story IMAX screen and an RPX screen.

“The Last Jedi” debuted to an estimated $220 million in North America, the second-best opening ever behind its predecessor, 2015’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” The Irvine theater ranked No. 6 in the nation for that opening.

kathleen.luppi@latimes.com

Twitter: @KathleenLuppi