Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker opened to $176 million at the U.S box office and $374 million globally.
After four years, the sequel trilogy has come to an end with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and depending on who you ask, its end was either triumphant or a whimper. Released this weekend to mixed critical and fan reception, the film’s financial restitution seems to match exactly what the general consensus of the film was: just decent, if not a bit a disappointing.
Variety reports that Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker opened to $176 million at the U.S box office, which would be a god-send for any film, let alone any franchise, but this is Star Wars, the exception to everything. The first film that kicked off the sequel Star Wars trilogy, The Force Awakens, which was also directed by J.J. Abrams, raked in a $247 million just four years ago. Its sequel, The Last Jedi, which ended up being the most controversial film in the Star Wars saga, brought in $220 million.
The Rise of Skywalker was entering the box office with a myriad of chips and controversies stacked against it. Without a doubt, the fan backlash against The Last Jedi turned many die-hard folks against the Star Wars franchise as a whole. With all that being said, The Rise of Skywalker did have a massive opening debut with $176 million, leaving Cats in utter dust with the $6.5 million it raked in from what were most-likely ironic viewings. Other notable earnings this weekend came from the Adam Sandler starrer Uncut Gems, which earned more than a $1 million at the box office, and Frozen 2, which has already crossed the $1 billion dollar mark, earning another $12 million this weekend.
With the fan reception not necessarily the most positive, it’s hard to image Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will achieve the same amount of repeat-viewings that The Force Awakens enjoyed in 2015. Despite J.J. Abrams’ best efforts at trying to reunite the fans and create a satisfying conclusion to the Skywalker saga , it appears that Star Wars franchise might have to take a break for a while to regain its record-breaking opening weekends.
Did you watch Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker this weekend? Comment below and let us know your thoughts!
Here is the synopsis for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker:
Lucasfilm and director J.J. Abrams join forces once again to take viewers on an epic journey to a galaxy far, far away with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the riveting conclusion of the seminal Skywalker saga, where new legends will be born and the final battle for freedom is yet to come.
Directed by J.J. Abrams, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker stars Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, Billie Lourd, Naomi Ackie, Richard E. Grant, Keri Russell, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Ian McDiarmid, and Billy Dee Williams. Carrie Fisher will appear as General Leia Organa through the use of previously unreleased footage shot for Star Wars: The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is now playing in theaters.
Source: Variety
