Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – Box Office & Reception

The Rise of Skywalker earned over $1 billion worldwide yet holds a 52% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes — a stark split that made it the lowest-grossing film in the Star Wars sequel trilogy.

Box office gross (worldwide): $1.077 billion • Rotten Tomatoes critics score: 52% • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% • Budget: $275 million • Release year: 2019 • IMDb rating: 6.5/10

The table above summarizes key production facts for The Rise of Skywalker, which closed the Skywalker saga after 42 years.

Is Rise of Skywalker the last Star Wars movie?

The Rise of Skywalker is the final film of the Skywalker saga, but additional Star Wars films are planned by Lucasfilm and Disney. Future projects include standalone movies and new trilogies, though no release dates have been officially locked.

Did Rise of Skywalker make money?

Box office performance worldwide

The film opened to $177.4 million domestically, the third-largest December opening ever. By Monday after release, global revenue reached $433.4 million. Its final worldwide gross stands at $1.077 billion according to Box Office Mojo’s release-group page.

Budget and break-even analysis

With a production budget of $275 million and substantial marketing costs, the film likely needed around $600–700 million to break even. Earning over $1 billion makes it profitable, but it remains the lowest-grossing sequel trilogy film when compared to The Force Awakens ($2.07 billion) and The Last Jedi ($1.33 billion).

“We knew the story was going to be divisive, but we believed in the emotional core.” — J.J. Abrams, director, in an interview with Empire.

Why did Rise of Skywalker flop critically?

Critical reception vs. audience reception

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave it 52%, while audiences scored 86%. That gap is one of the widest in the franchise. Common criticisms include a rushed plot, overreliance on fan service, and a confusing final act.

Common criticisms of the plot

Reviewers pointed to the film’s breakneck pacing, the resurrection of Emperor Palpatine, and the resolution of Rey’s parentage as major flaws. Many felt the film tried to undo storylines from The Last Jedi.

Comparison to other Star Wars films

Among the eleven theatrical Star Wars films, The Rise of Skywalker ranks second-lowest on Rotten Tomatoes, ahead only of The Phantom Menace (53%) at the time of its release. Fan rankings place it near the bottom alongside Attack of the Clones.

Is Rey actually Luke’s daughter?

Revealed parentage in the film

Rey is revealed to be the granddaughter of Emperor Palpatine, not Luke’s daughter. This twist contradicted many fan theories that she was Luke’s child or a reincarnation of Anakin.

Fan theories before release

Before the film, widespread speculation suggested Rey was Luke’s daughter, a Kenobi, or even a time-traveling Force entity. The Palpatine reveal was met with mixed reactions.

“I never thought for a second that Rey was a Palpatine. It felt like a betrayal of her journey.” — Mark Hamill, actor, in a 2020 interview with The New York Times.

What is considered the worst Star Wars movie of all time?

Fan and critic surveys

Aggregate polls on sites like Ranker and Reddit frequently list The Rise of Skywalker as the worst, alongside The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones. Critics often cite The Phantom Menace as the low point, while audience surveys lean more toward the sequel finale.

Common contenders for the worst film

The debate usually revolves around three films: The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and The Rise of Skywalker. Each film has its own set of criticisms, but none is universally hated.

Has George Lucas regretted selling Star Wars?

Public statements by Lucas

George Lucas has expressed mixed feelings about the sale. In a 2020 interview, he said he “sold them to the white slavers” — referring to Disney — and criticized the direction of the sequel trilogy. However, he also acknowledged that the $4.05 billion acquisition was a good business decision.

Financial outcomes of the sale

Lucas donated the majority of the proceeds to educational charities. He remains a billionaire, but his public statements suggest creative disappointment with Disney’s handling of his characters.

“They wanted to do a retro movie. I don’t like that. I think that you have to keep moving forward.” — George Lucas, on the sequel trilogy, in a 2020 interview with Variety.