Here’s why Rise of Skywalker could break $200 Million at Opening

in Disney, Movies, Star Wars

STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER Joonas Suotamo as Chewbacca, John Boyega as Finn and Osacr Isaac as Poe Dameron

Credit: EW / Lucasfilm

It looks like nobody is as optimistic about the opening of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker as the people who are making it. When anyone from the production, J.J. Abrams especially, there is nothing but excitement for the release. The latest addition to the Skywalker Saga is projected to take home $175-205 million on its opening weekend.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Credit: Lucasfilm

By ticket presale comparison, The Rise of Skywalker is coming in third behind The Last Jedi, and The Force Awakens, and it shares an opening weekend with other solid-looking movies like Jumanji: The Next Level. But, there is still a very strong possibility that The Rise of Skywalker will still emerge over that $200-million mark for an unprecedented opening weekend. Here’s why.

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It’s the last movie of The Skywalker Saga

A New Hope.
Credit: Lucasfilm

The eight movies of The Skywalker Saga have been the backbone of the entire Star Wars franchise. The ninth and final movie is upon us. Each of the three trilogies has touched a new generation in its own way. Now a story enjoyed and beloved by multiple generations is coming to a close.

  • If nostalgia does not work, people will see it simply for the reason they don’t want to be left out.
    • It is going to be a moment of cinema and societal history. People are going to see it. Proof of this is found in every franchise.
    • One of the best examples is the Harry Potter franchise. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 beat every other movie of its franchise domestically and worldwide. It was the only Harry Potter movie to break $1billion at the world box office.

 

  • Not only is it the last of The Skywalker Saga, but it is also Carrie Fisher’s final performance.
    • Using unused footage from The Force Awakens, JJ Abrams was able to avoid any recasting or CGI movie magic to completely tell Princess/General Leia’s final chapter as if Fisher was still alive to do it.
    • A great example of this point is with Robin Williams’ final performance in Night at the Museum: Secrets of the Tomb. While numbers weren’t exactly stellar, the drive to see Robin Williams one last time in theaters drew people to buy a ticket.

 

  • But back to nostalgia for a second. It is also the last time we’re going to see some of our favorite characters in action!
    • It’s the last movie with our favorite droids R2D2 and C3PO.
    • It’s the last movie with Rey, Fin, and Po.
    • It’s the last movie with the Millennium Falcon.

 

  • Also, in several cases, the third installment of a trilogy may not do as well as the first but beats the second. Star Wars: The Last Jedi earned $220 Million in its opening weekend.
    • One example is Lucasfilm’s own Indiana Jones

 

Carrie Fisher
Credit: Lucasfilm

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will also be in theaters throughout the holidays. So, if the ticket presales project correctly, this final movie might be set up to run a marathon to an overall worldwide box office record rather than a sprint on opening weekend.

However, as someone who almost always goes to an opening day showing without needing to buy tickets ahead of time, this writer is ready to predict some surprisingly high numbers coming our way on the morning of Monday, December 24.

How do you think The Rise of Skywalker will perform on opening weekend? Do you already have your tickets? Let us know in the comments!

Source: deadline.com; Forbes.com

in Disney, Movies, Star Wars

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