Walt Disney Pictures has already enjoyed an unprecedented year at the box office this year, with mega hits such as Avengers: Endgame, The Lion King, Captain Marvel, Toy Story 4, Aladdin and Frozen II, and with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker just three weeks out from release, it will come as little surprise to learn that tracking estimates are suggesting that stellar run is set to continue this December.
According to Deadline, The Rise of Skywalker is tracking a $205 million domestic opening, which would make it only the eighth film to ever debut north of $200 million (of the first seven, 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens managed a then-record $248 million, while Star Wars: The Last Jedi debuted to $220 million in 2017).
While that figure is the lowest of the Sequel Trilogy, it is up on th 2016 spinoff Rogue One: A Star Wars Story ($155 million), and a huge improvement over the last Star Wars release, 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story, which became the first movie in the franchise to tank at the box office following a North American opening weekend of $84.4 million.
SEE ALSO: New Emperor Palpatine dialogue featured in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker TV spot
International tracking figures are yet to arrive, but it has been announced that The Rise of Skywalker has secured a day-and-date release in China. While that’s sure to give the global opening a nice boost, Star Wars has never particularly been successful in the Middle Kingdom, with diminishing returns on each instalment since Disney acquired the property.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is set for release on December 19th 2019 in the UK and December 20th 2019 in North America with J.J. Abrams (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) directing a cast that includes Star Wars veterans Daisy Ridley (Rey), Adam Driver (Kylo Ren), John Boyega (Finn), Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron), Lupita Nyong’o (Maz Kanata), Domhnall Gleeson (General Hux), Kelly Marie Tran (Rose Tico), Joonas Suotamo (Chewbacca), Billie Lourd (Lieutenant Connix), Greg Grunberg (Snap Wexley), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian) and Carrie Fisher (Leia Organa) as well as new additions Naomi Ackie (Lady Macbeth), Richard E. Grant (Logan), Dominic Monaghan (Lost), and Keri Russell (The Americans).
