Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker had a strong holiday boost at the domestic box office.
Episode IX earned $32 million domestically on Christmas Day, bringing its current domestic box office total to $258.9 million and $259.9 million in foreign markets. With a current worldwide cume of $516.8 million, the film is highly expected to reach the $1 billion mark before the eventual end of its theatrical run.
The Rise of Skywalker's Christmas performance is the second highest-earning Christmas Day domestic box office to date -- second only to The Force Awakens, which grossed $49.3 million on Christmas in 2015. Meanwhile, Episode IX's holiday performance far surpasses The Last Jedi, which earned $27.5 million on Christmas in 2017.
Opening against Little Women and Uncut Gems, The Rise of Skywalker is expected to retain the top box office spot worldwide for its second weekend in theaters.
Directed and co-written by J.J. Abrams, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker stars Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, Billie Lourd, Keri Russell, Anthony Daniels, Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams, and Carrie Fisher, with Naomi Ackie and Richard E. Grant.
(via THR)