'Star Wars' Struggle: 'The Last Jedi' Opens Behind 'Rogue One' in China

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“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” is struggling its opening weekend in China, only grossing ¥62M ($9.5 million) on opening day, including midnight screenings.

According to China Box Office, a Twitter account run by Chinese film industry analyst Jonathan Papish, “The Last Jedi” could fail to reach even $40 million its opening weekend. On opening day, “The Force Awakens” earned ¥212 million ($32.7 million) and it went on to earn $52 million, while “Rogue One” grossed ¥72 million ($11 million) and eventually grossed $30 million.

From Thursday midnight showings, “The Last Jedi” earned just ¥3.4M ($520,000), while “The Force Awakens” grossed ¥15.9 million ($2.5 million) and “Rogue One” earned ¥3.7 million ($570,000).

Also Read: Why 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' May Flop in China Despite $1 Billion Global Box Office

According to Papish, “Last Jedi” is expected to place second in China, after local rom-com “Ex-File 3: Return of the Exes,” which in its eight days has earned ¥838 million ($129 million). Next weekend, “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” will get its Chinese release.

“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” is by no means struggling for cash — after all, the film has grossed over $1.1 billion worldwide, and $544.6 million domestically. China is the last major territory release for the Disney picture, and the studio is set to release the film on over 25,000 screens in the country.

Also Read: 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' Hits $1 Billion Worldwide as 2017 Closes

“The Force Awakens” ended up earning $124 million in China in January 2016, while “Rogue One” earned $69.5 million last year. Either way, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” is expected to become 2017’s highest grossing release this weekend when it passes the $1.26 billion global total made by “Beauty and the Beast.”

“The Last Jedi” has been lauded by critics in the United States — on Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a score of 90 percent. Its CinemaScore is A.

'Star Wars: The Last Jedi': 8 A-List Cameos to Keep an Eye (and Ear) Out for (Photos)

"Star Wars: The Last Jedi" is finally here, and much like "The Force Awakens" and "Rogue One," it is filled with celebrities who oh-so-badly wanted to be a part of a galaxy far, far away. From past "Star Wars" directors to the next King of England, these cameos come in blink-and-you'll-miss-it shots or in the voices of bizarre alien creatures on Canto Bight, the newest Star Wars planet that looks like Galactic Monaco. Here is some to look out for when you watch the movie:
Lucasfilm
When Gareth Edwards wrote "Rogue One," he put Rian Johnson in front of the camera for a special cameo. Now, Rian is returning the favor in "The Last Jedi." If you can remember to do so during the film's heart-pounding climax on the salt planet of Crait, look for Edwards as a Resistance soldier fighting in the trenches.
As hardcore Warwick Davis, who famously played Wicket the Ewok in "Return of the Jedi," has made cameos in "Star Wars" movies ever since. Here, he voices one of the rich, greedy creatures gambling their ill-gotten gains away on Canto Bight.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt has a long history with Rian Johnson, starring in his 2005 debut film "Brick" and his nail-biting sci-fi film "Looper." He also has a voice cameo as one of the gamblers on Canto Bight.
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Another star of "Brick," Noah Segan, also has a long-standing relationship with Rian Johnson. He appears in this film as an X-Wing pilot who fights in the opening battle against a Dreadnought Star Destroyer.
Very mild spoiler here: As part of a mission, Finn and Rose are instructed to go to Canto Bight and search for someone wearing a floral pin. That pin is worn by a craps-throwing Canto Bight gambler played by Justin Theroux, star of HBO's "The Leftovers" and writer for films like "Tropic Thunder" and "Iron Man 2."
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It might become a new tradition to have big stars play Stormtroopers in these new Star Wars movies. Daniel Craig played one in "The Force Awakens," and here, Tom Hardy plays one in a scene where Finn and Rose disguise themselves as First Order officers to sneak onto Supreme Leader Snoke's mothership. But he's not the only famous Stormtrooper in that scene...
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The future King of England, Prince William, and his brother, Prince Harry, also play Stormtroopers on Snoke's ship. Like Hardy, you probably won't be able to spot them, but they also got a "Star Wars" moment of their own this week, when BB-8 bowed to them as they arrived at the film's London premiere.
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These guest roles are easy to miss

"Star Wars: The Last Jedi" is finally here, and much like "The Force Awakens" and "Rogue One," it is filled with celebrities who oh-so-badly wanted to be a part of a galaxy far, far away. From past "Star Wars" directors to the next King of England, these cameos come in blink-and-you'll-miss-it shots or in the voices of bizarre alien creatures on Canto Bight, the newest Star Wars planet that looks like Galactic Monaco. Here is some to look out for when you watch the movie:

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'Star Wars: The Last Jedi': 8 A-List Cameos to Keep an Eye (and Ear) Out for (Photos)

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