‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ Disappoints Fans, Receives Worst CinemaScore of the Franchise

The ninth film in Lucasfilm’s saga, however, is on track to gross $195 million in its domestic opening weekend

Star Wars Rise of Skywalker Rey Daisy Ridley Kylo Ren Adam Driver
Photo credit: Walt Disney Studios

“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” the ninth and final (maybe?) film in Lucasfilm’s Skywalker saga, is being met with a mixed response from fans who have given it the lowest CinemaScore of any film in the franchise.

The J.J. Abrams-directed film has been knocked by critics, receiving a 57% critical Rotten Tomatoes score, while fans on the review aggregator gave the film an 86%.

The film was given a B+ CinemaScore, indicating a less-than satisfying end to one of Hollywood’s most prominent and lucrative movie franchises. That fan grading is the lowest of all the others in the franchise — and yes, that includes “The Last Jedi” and “Solo: A Star Wars Story.” CinemaScore survey’s moviegoers after opening night of a film’s release in order to measure a movies appeal among audiences.

The only “Star Wars” film to have a lower grade than “The Rise of Skywalker” is the animated “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” which isn’t included here by nature of not being one of the live-action films.

“Solo,” along with the prequel films “The Phantom Menace,” “Attack of the Clones” and “Revenge of the Sith,” all received A- CinemaScores when they came out. Until “The Rise of Skywalker” that was the lowest. The original trilogy doesn’t have scores on the site.

The lackluster reception aside, “The Rise of Skywalker” is poised to be a juggernaut at the box office. The film has already pulled in $90 million from 4,406 screens — including $40 million from Thursday previews. “The Rise of Skywalker” is on track to gross $195 million in its domestic opening weekend, which would put it just above the $191 million openings of “Avengers: Age of Ultron” and the “Lion King” remake for the eighth highest domestic opening of all-time.

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