The popularity ofStar Warsnever ceases to amaze. This month, one of the most beloved entries in the Jedi universe iscelebrating its 20th anniversarywith a re-release in theaters. Since it is a limited event, it was expected thatStar Wars: Revenge of the Sithwouldn’t be a huge standout at the box office. But fans seem to be using the Force to bring it back to the top: just in its Thursday previews, theGeorge Lucasmovie has earned a reported $3.4 million in ticket sales, outperforming new titles likeThe Accountant 2andUntil Dawn.
Despite the surprising debut, it’s not likeStar Warsfans didn’t signal that they would keep coming back to theaters: last year,Star Wars: The Phantom Menaceraked in more than $8 million on its opening weekend. However, sinceRevenge of the Sithis already off to a great start, speculations are putting the movie up for a $20 million performance after every fan is finished watchingEwan McGregor’s (A Gentleman in Moscow) Obi-Wan Kenobi get the higher ground and duke it out with Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen).
Back in 2005,Revenge of the Sithmanaged to make$850 million at the global box office, which made it the second highest-grossing title of that year — losing only toHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. The performance was directly related to the fact that mostStar Warsfans and even casual viewers wanted to witness Vader’s return to the big screen for the first time since 1983’sStar Wars: Return of the Jedi. The cast also featuredNatalie Portman(May December) as Padmé Amidala,Samuel L. Jackson(The Marvels) as Mace Windu,Christopher Lee(The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies) as Count Dooku,Anthony Daniels(Ahsoka) as C-3PO,Kenny Baker(The Battersea Ripper) as R2-D2 andFrank Oz(Echoes of Violence) as Yoda.
‘Revenge of The Sith’ Was a Game-Changer
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sithwas also a goodbye of sorts from fans to the franchise. It ended thesecond trilogy in the franchise, and for all we knew back then, it would be a long while before we visited a galaxy far, far away again. Star Wars only returned to movie theaters a decade later withStar Wars: The Force Awakens. The adventure was also the last entry in the franchise directed by Lucas himself. After that, the franchise creator acted only as producer in other Star Wars stories.
Since the weekend is only beginning, there is still a lot to happen as fans flock to movie theaters to revisitRevenge of the Sith. The release is also fairly close toStar Wars Day, so this might help boost the movie’s performance in the next week. Stay tuned to Collider to find out all about theRevenge of the Sithre-releasein theaters.
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Source:The Hollywood Reporter,Deadline
