STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER is off to a most-impressive start at the box office with $40 million earned in Thursday night preview screenings, a number that is expected to climb exponentially throughout the weekend. Analysts have the final chapter in the Skywalker saga netting as much as $200 million over the next few days, a total that doesn't have the film banking as much as other films in the space wizard saga set in a galaxy far, far away.
Despite not breaking any records, The Rise of Skywalker still had the fifth best Thursday preview total, behind AVENGERS: ENDGAME ($60 million), and the first two installments of the latest Star Wars-related trilogy, The Force Awakens ($57 million) and The Last Jedi ($45 million), and HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS – PART 2 ($44 million). Meanwhile, critic and fan reviews for The Rise of Skywalker remain rather mixed at this time, with many saying that the space-faring spectacle is overstuffed and fails to bring key character arcs to a satisfying close. Let's be honest though, did you ever expect anything short of divisiveness as a reaction to a new film in the Star Wars saga? I didn't think so.
Overseas, The Rise of Skywalker had arrived in 46 different markets, including territories like the U.K., Russia, Australia, Brazil and Mexico. When you combine the two-day earnings for each of the international debuts, you'll find the film earning a formidable $59.1 million in receipts. Unfortunately, The Rise of Skywalker didn't fare as well in China, after only having sold $3.6 million in tickets to tepid fans of the franchise.
One suspects that STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER will continue to dominate the box office throughout the weekend, despite moviegoers scrambling to secure last minute gifts for their loved ones in preparation of the Christmas holiday.
Have you had the chance to experience STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER yet? If you have, why not check out our spoiler-tastic post here, and tell us what you thought about the film?
STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER is now playing in theaters all across the galaxy. May the force be with you, always.