‘Rise of Skywalker’ opens with $175.5 million; ‘Cats’ flops

This im released by Lucasfilm shows Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, left, and Daisy Ridley as Rey in a scene from "Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker." (Lucasfilm via AP)

This im released by Lucasfilm shows Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, left, and Daisy Ridley as Rey in a scene from "Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker." (Lucasfilm via AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — Force was a little less strong with “Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker.” J.J. Abrams’ Skywalker finale couldn’t match its recent predecessors on opening weekend, but it still amassed a $175.5 million debut that ranked far, far away from all but a dozen films.

“ Rise of Skywalker” came in with worse reviews than any “Star Wars” movie except for 1999′s “ Phantom Menace,” which famously heralded debut of Jar Jar Binks. “ Rise of Skywalker” has a 57% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences, too, were relatively lukewarm to movie, giving it a B+ CinemaScore.

That response may have muted what could have been a record-setting weekend. While Disney had cautiously estimated about a $165 million opening, analysts had pegged “ Rise of Skywalker” for around $200 million.

“ Rise of Skywalker” pulled in $374 million worldwide, according to studio estimates Sunday. film was especially lackluster in China, as all “Star Wars” films have been. It grossed $12.1 million re.

Though it proved divisive with fans, 2017′s “Last of Jedi,” directed by Rian Johnson, opened with $220 million. Abrams’ own “ Force Awakens” set a n-record in 2015 with a $248 million debut.

Such expectations did t await Tom Hooper’s adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats.” much ridiculed big-screen musical, featuring infamous “digital fur techlogy,” scratched out just $6.5 million in ticket sales, sending Mr. Mistoffelees (and Universal Pictures) home licking ir wounds.

$100 million production, featuring an ensemble including Jennifer Hudson, Judi Dench, James Corden, Idris Elba, Ian McKellen and Taylor Swift, came in well behind projections. It opened in a distant fourth place.

Holdovers “Jumanji: Next Level” and “Frozen 2” both surpassed “Cats.”

“Rise of Skywalker” culminated a tumultuous period in “Star Wars,” finishing off both a trilogy and nine-film cycle begun 42 years ago by George Lucas. In 2012, Disney acquired Lucasfilm for $4 billion. While its stewardship of “Star Wars” has drawn mostly praise and ermous box-office proceeds, “ Rise of Skywalker” trailed both much-debated “Last of Jedi” and 2018 dud “Solo: A Star Wars Story.”

In vember, Disney chief executive Bob Iger told investors that “Star Wars” will go “into a hiatus” after “Rise of Skywalker.” next “Star Wars” movie, t one in Skywalker saga, isn’t scheduled for release until 2022. “Game of Thrones” makers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss recently pulled out of planned “Star Wars” trilogy.

Lately, “Star Wars” has been a more emphatic hit on small screen. “ Mandalorian” helped launch Disney Plus streaming service.

But Disney can still make considerable demands on aters for “Star Wars” films. Disney charges aters 65% of ticket sales, or about 10% more than standard, for “Star Wars” releases, and requires a run of four weeks.