"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" is set to surpass "Avatar" this week as the highest-grossing movie in U.S. and Canadian theaters.

After a gross of $88.3 million in its third weekend, the domestic total for Walt Disney Co.'s "The Force Awakens" stands at $740.3 million -- about $20 million shy of "Avatar's" lifetime gross in the U.S. and Canada.

The pace of the two films' performance couldn't be more different. "The Force Awakens" reached $700 million in a record 16 days, whereas "Avatar" did it in 72 days. Globally, "The Force Awakens" stands at $1.5 billion; "Avatar's" total worldwide gross is $2.8 billion.

The chances of "The Force Awakens" beating "Avatar's" global record depend in large part on its performance in China, where it opens next weekend. China is the world's second-largest box office, but the "Star Wars" brand isn't as well-known there as it is in most international territories.

Currently, the United Kingdom is the highest-grossing overseas market for "The Force Awakens," at $145 million, followed by Germany at $81.4 million and France at $67.1 million.