Episode VIII of the „Star Wars“ saga on target for $190 million-plus opening, but some analysts think it might break $200 million
After two weeks of no wide releases, the box office is ready for the big one: “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” Rian Johnson’s sequel to J. Abrams “The Force Awakens,” which made a then-record $529 million worldwide in its opening weekend and grossed over $2 billion by the end of its theatrical run.
“The Last Jedi” is expected to provide a similar final jolt to 2017 box office totals, though it’s unlikely to match the $248 million domestic opening “The Force Awakens” made off the hype of being the first new “Star Wars” film in a decade. Independent trackers currently have the film making an opening weekend of at least $190 million, which would put it on the same level as the $191 million made by “Avengers: Age of Ultron” in 2015.
Also Read: ‚Star Wars: The Last Jedi‘ Reviews: ‚Triumph,‘ ‚Explosive Sugar Rush of Spectacle,‘ But Has Flaws
But analysts who spoke with TheWrap say that it’s very likely that “Last Jedi” will become the fourth film to gross a $200 million-plus opening, joining “Force Awakens,” “The Avengers,” and “Jurassic World.” The film has received glowing praise from critics this week, with the Rotten Tomatoes score currently sitting at 94 percent and expected to finish above 90 percent after the flurry of reviews are registered. There’s also the additional draw of the late Carrie Fisher, whose fans will flock to see her last performance as the Alderaan Princess turned Resistance General Leia Organa.
Today, the total domestic box office revenue for 2017 will hit the $10 billion mark, putting it just under 4 percent down from this point last year according to comScore. “Star Wars” will provide a final big jolt to domestic and worldwide totals, with a worldwide opening weekend of $400-425 million expected. On the domestic side, “The Force Awakens” made $652 million by the end of 2015, and analyst estimates say “Last Jedi” will make at least half a billion by New Year’s Eve.
Estimates from comScore based on December performance from 2015 and 2016 have the final total for 2017 sitting somewhere between $10.9 and $11.1 billion, for a year-to-year drop-off of 2-3.5 percent. That would be a smaller drop-off than 2011, when domestic totals fell 3.7 percent, and 2014, when totals fell 5.2 percent.
Also Read: ‚Star Wars: The Last Jedi‘ Movie Review: The Thrills Are Strong with This One
“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” follows Rey (Daisy Ridley) as she tries to convince Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) to help the struggling Resistance survive against The First Order, led by Supreme Leader Snoke and Kylo Ren (Andy Serkis and Adam Driver). Meanwhile, Finn and Poe Dameron (John Boyega and Oscar Isaac) hatch a desperate plan with the help of a maintenance worker named Rose (Kelly Marie Tran) to save the remnants of the Resistance as the First Order plan a final assault to wipe them out. Rian Johnson wrote and directed the film.
Also getting a release this weekend is Blue Sky’s “Ferdinand,” which earned two Golden Globe nominations this week for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song. Based on the classic children’s book “The Story of Ferdinand” by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson, the film stars John Cena as the titular Spanish Fighting Bull who yearns to live a pacifist life but is forced into bullfighting in order to earn his freedom. As “Star Wars” will be taking up much of the air this weekend, expectations are low for “Ferdinand” with projections in the high teens.
The film is directed by Carlos Saldanha (“Ice Age”) and also stars Kate McKinnon, David Tennant, Bobby Cannavale, Peyton Manning, Gina Rodriguez, Anthony Anderson, and Daveed Diggs. Robert L. Baird, Tim Federle and Brad Copeland wrote the script.
24 Actors You Probably Didn’t Know Were in ‚Star Wars‘ Movies (Photos)
The „Star Wars“ franchise — now 40 years young — is full of secret cameos, soon-to-be-famous actors in small bit parts, and well-known faces behind alien masks and makeup. Here are 23 big names hidden throughout the franchise you might not have known about.
For more features and deep dives into the world of „Star Wars“ and the culture surrounding it, be sure to check out IMDb’s „Star Wars“ hub. Lucasfilm
John Ratzenberger („The Empire Strikes Back“)
Ratzenberger is best remembered as know-it-all postman Cliff Clavin from „Cheers,“ or maybe his numerous voice roles in Pixar movies. In „The Empire Strikes Back,“ Ratzenberger is one of the Rebel officers hanging around Echo Base on Hoth with Princess Leia and C-3PO (Anthony Daniels). Lucasfilm
Treat Williams („The Empire Strikes Back“)
When you’re Treat Williams, you can wander onto the set of „The Empire Strikes Back“ and find yourself in the movie. Williams reportedly dropped by England’s Elstree Studios set, where the movie was being filmed, to visit Carrie Fisher. Apparently one thing led to another, and now Williams plays one of the Rebel troops running around Echo Base on Hoth. Lucasfilm
Julian Glover („The Empire Strikes Back“)
Julian Glover’s General Veers is probably the most competent officer available to Darth Vader as wanders the galaxy looking for the Rebels and Luke Skywalker. He’d be decidedly less competent as Grand Maester Pycelle on „Game of Thrones,“ but decidedly more evil as Nazi collaborator Walter Donovan in „Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade“ (you know — the guy who ages super fast after drinking from the wrong grail). Lucasfilm
Tony Cox („Return of the Jedi“)
In an Ewok suit, you’d never know Tony Cox appeared in „Return of the Jedi.“ He wouldn’t really show off his acting chops until later when he was stealing scenes all over comedies like „Bad Santa,“ where he was Billy Bob Thornton’s much-smarter mall-robbing accomplice/Christmas elf, and „Me, Myself and Irene.“ Lucasfilm
Deep Roy („Return of the Jedi“)
It’s easiest to remember Deep Roy in the Johnny Depp-starring „Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,“ since Roy played every orange oompa-loompa in that movie. In „Return of the Jedi,“ he was both an Ewok and the puffy alien band member Droopy McCool in Jabba’s Palace. Deep Roy also worked on „The Empire Strikes Back,“ acting as a stand-in for the muppet Yoda. Lucasfilm
Keira Knightley (“The Phantom Menace”)
Knightley wasn’t just any handmaiden in “The Phantom Menace” — she was the handmaiden. Serving as the decoy for the real queen, Knightley was the actress people thought was Amidala for half the movie, before Natalie Portman’s Padmé revealed her true identity. Lucasfilm
Peter Serafinowicz („The Phantom Menace“)
Marvel Cinematic Universe fans will recognize Peter Seafinowicz for his turn as untrusting Nova Corps officer Garthan Saal in „Guardians of the Galaxy.“ He didn’t appear in „The Phantom Menace,“ but provided the gravely, frightening voice of Darth Maul (the rest of whom was played by Ray Park), as well as for a gungan warrior and a battle droid. Lucasfilm
Dominic West („The Phantom Menace“)
The prequel trilogy was filled with actors who would go on to do great things, but who were mostly filling small or background roles in the „Star Wars“ universe. Dominic West’s character in „The Phantom Menace“ was an otherwise nondescript member of Queen Amidala’s palace guard — nothing so interesting as his later turn as Jimmy McNulty on HBO’s „The Wire.“ Lucasfilm
Sofia Coppola (“The Phantom Menace”)
There really were a mess of these handmaidens. Before she was a full-time director, Sofia Coppola picked up a few small acting gigs, including the handmaiden Saché in “The Phantom Menace.” Just a few years after the 1999 movie, in 2003, Coppola would pick up a Best Director Academy Award nomination for “Lost in Translation.” Lucasfilm
Sally Hawkins („The Phantom Menace“)
Before she was an Academy Award-nominated actress for her role in „Blue Jasmine,“ Sally Hawkins was an extra in the giant celebration scene in „The Phantom Menace.“ She admitted in an interview with Conan O’Brien that she’d never actually seen the movie, despite being in it. Team Coco/Lucasfilm
Richard Armitage („The Phantom Menace“)
Blink and you’d miss Richard Armitage’s small background role (second from the right in the background) among the guards on Naboo.
