Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is projected to have the lowest opening of the new Star Wars trilogy, which includes The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.
According to Box Office Pro, the third film in the third trilogy is projected to open between $185 million and $225 million. That puts it below the Force Awakens $248 million and The Last Jedi's $220 million. However, long range ticketing forecasts often change as the release date gets closer. Furthermore, the higher end of The Rise of Skywalker is $225 million, which would, in fact, place it above The Last Jedi.
Still, this does not mean that The Rise of Skywalker will fail at the box office. The film has already sold more tickets than any other Star Wars movie on Fandango and set the general record on Atom.
Directed and co-written by J.J. Abrams, Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker stars Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Anthony Daniels, Naomi Ackie, Domhnall Gleeson, Richard E. Grant, Lupita Nyong’o, Keri Russell, Joonas Suotamo, Kelly Marie Tran, with Ian McDiarmid and Billy Dee Williams. The film arrives on Dec. 20.