There is little doubt that millions of people rushed to watch Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker this weekend. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be enough to push the numbers for the sequel. A new report reveals that Episode IX had the lowest opening weekend in the sequel trilogy.
The report comes from Comicbook.com, which reveals that The Rise of Skywalker is expected to bring in about $175 million on its opening weekend. This is a lot lower than Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which opened with a record-breaking $247.9 million in 2015. Likewise, Star Wars: The Last Jedi was able to bring in $220 million on its first weekend.
It's a disappointing turnout for the final film in the Skywalker Saga. But what could be the cause of the less-than-stellar box office performance? It's possible that some fans were still unhappy with how The Last Jedi turned out. On the other hand, it may have something to do with the movie itself.
The Rise of Skywalker has been suffering from mixed reviews as critics claimed that the film focused too much on fan service rather than providing an acceptable conclusion to the Skywalker Saga. Either way, $175 million isn't too bad and should still be considered a success for the franchise.
In Episode IX, Emperor Palpatine was re-introduced as the main villain as Rey and the Resistance finally took their last stand against the First Order.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is currently screening in theaters worldwide.
Related: Star Wars: Carrie Fisher's Emotional After-Death Letter Revealed
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Star Wars: Episode IX