Despite some mixed reviews amongst critics, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was able to gross an astounding $176 million during its domestic opening. The third highest in 2019.
The film which has 57% critic score and 86% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes also brought in an additional $198 million in international markets bringing its global total to $374 million for the weekend.
Although The Rise of Skywalker opened to less than its predecessors (The Force Awakens $247 million and The Last Jedi $220 million), industry insiders believe that a late-year box office surge is expected, with little competition in its way through the last few days of 2019 and the first few weeks of 2020. The film is expected to become Disney’s seventh billion-dollar film of 2019.
The Rise of Skywalker had one of the best openings of December of all-time the only two films to do better were its predecessors in fact. What is even crazier is that there is still a chance that The Rise of Skywalker can still overtake The Last Jedi to become the thirteenth highest-grossing film ever.
Read: SPOILER-FREE REVIEW: “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”
2019 continues to be a record year for the Walt Disney Company at the box office. Films contributing to the studios’ massive haul this year include Avengers: Endgame ( $2.798 billion), The Lion King ($1.656 billion), Captain Marvel ($1.130 billion), Frozen 2 ($1.103 billion), Toy Story 4 ($1.074 billion) and Aladdin ($1.051 billion). Not to mention Dumbo ($340 million) and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil ($480 million).
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker sees the return of stars Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, and Billie Lourd. Joining the cast of Episode IX are Naomi Ackie (Doctor Who), Richard E. Grant (Gosford Park, Hudson Hawk), Dominic Monaghan (Lost), Keri Russell (The Americans), and Matt Smith (Doctor Who), who will be joined by veteran Star Wars actors Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, and Billy Dee Williams, who will reprise his role as Lando Calrissian. The role of Leia Organa will once again be played by Carrie Fisher, using previously unreleased footage shot for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is directed by J.J. Abrams and produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Abrams and Michelle Rejwan. Callum Greene, Tommy Gormley, and Jason McGatlin serve as executive producers. The screenplay was written by Chris Terrio & J.J. Abrams and the story is by Derek Connolly & Colin Trevorrow and J.J. Abrams & Chris Terrio, based on characters created by George Lucas.
The film is in theaters now.
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