The wait is almost over,Star Warsfans! Starting tomorrow nightRogue One: A Star Wars Storyis finally hitting theaters and people all around the world are going to be packing into theaters to see the very first everStar Warsstandalone movie. The fact that it isn’t part of the main saga doesn’t seem to be hurting it either, because the movie is tracking for a truly massiveopening weekend.
According toDeadline,Star Wars: Rogue Onecould be eyeing a worldwide opening as high as $350 million. Even the lowest end of projections have it bringing in $280 million, which would still be an excellent start for Disney and Lucasfilm. Only two other movies,Batman V Superman: Dawn of JusticeandCaptain America: Civil War, opened with more than $300 million worldwide in 2016. It won’t come anywhere near the ridiculous worldwide opening thatStar Wars: The Force Awakensdid last year, bringing in $528.9 million, but nobody is expecting it to. Not even Disney chairmanBob Iger.
“Yes, the marketing material that we’ve had out has been extremely well received. We’ve not ever felt [Rogue One] would do the level that Force Awakens did, but we’ve been very, very encouraged that the level of interest in this is as high as it was for Force Awakens.”
Rogue One: A Star Wars Storywill be looking at bringing in somewhere between $140-$150 million domestically this weekend, which is truly stellar. Again,The Force Awakensbrought in $247 million last year, but prior to that the December record holder wasThe Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, which brought in $84 million. SoRogue One: A Star Wars Storywould easily take the number two spot. It looks like Disney is going to be releasingStar Warsmovies in December for quite some time, so ultimately it will just beStar WarsVStar Warsin the years to come. Unless theAvatarsequels do decide to go up against them, ifJames Cameronever actually gets around to making them.
As we have seen in recent years,box office trackingcan be somewhat unreliable for these massive blockbusters, since they very regularlysurpass expectations. Not only that, but the early reactions toStar Wars: Rogue Onehave been overwhelmingly positive, which could help push the movie past that $150 million projected number. Also, we have learned not to underestimate the power of Disney, especially when coupled with the power of the Force.
Star Wars: Rogue Onewas directed byGareth Edwardsand tells the story of how the Rebels got their hands on the plans for the Death Star. The movie starsFelicity Jones,Mads Mikkelsen,Riz Ahmed,Ben Mendelsohn,Alan Tudyk,Diego Luna,Jiang Wen,Donnie Yen,Wen JiangandForest Whitaker, in addition to featuring Darth Vader, who is once again being voiced byJames Earl Jones.Rogue One: A Star Wars Storyhits theaters this weekend.
