WhileRyan Coogler’sSinnersdrew most of the attention this weekend for its stupendous box office performance, spare a thought forStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, which is breaking its own records two decades after its initial release. The third installment ofthe Star Wars prequel trilogygenerated $11.3 million on its first day back in theaters, in celebration of its 20th anniversary. The movie isexpected to gross anywhere between $25 million and $30 million this weekend, which would put it ahead ofBen Affleck’sThe Accountant 2— a remarkable result that proves the current cultural potency of the theatrical experience, ifSinnershadn’t already.
Anything above $30.2 million would putRevenge of the Sithatop the list of the modern era’s biggest re-release debuts, ahead ofThe Lion King. For context,The Lion Kingended up grossing over $185 million globally in its 2011 re-release. Already,Revenge of the Sithhas out-grossed the entire $10 million re-release haul thatAvatardelivered in its first weekend back in theaters in 2022, on its way to a $76 million domestic total. The record for the biggest re-release haul of all time belongs to anotherJames Cameronfilm,Titanic, which earned around $350 million worldwide in 2012, after generating $17 million in its first weekend domestically.
Revenge of the Sithhas also already out-grossed the $8.7 million re-opening weekend haul ofStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, which ended up generating just under $20 million worldwide last year.The Phantom Menacemade $21 million in its first weekend back in theaters in 2012, whileStar Wars: Episode IV - The Empire Strikes Backgrossed $21.9 million in its first weekend of re-release in 1997.Revenge of the Sithis poised to break both these records. More recently, theCoralinere-release grossed over $50 million worldwide last year, while theInterstellarre-release generated nearly $55 million globally in celebration of its 10th anniversary.
Can This Re-Release Push ‘Revenge of the Sith’ Past the $1 Billion Mark Globally?
Directed byGeorge Lucas,Revenge of the Sithconcluded the prequel trilogy on a fiery note, but itslegacy remains as complicated as ever. It earned the best reviews of the lot, and currently stands at a “certified fresh” 79% approval rating on the aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes. Themovie will pass the $400 million mark in total domestic box office revenue this weekend, while its global haul has passed the $850 million mark. Does it have what it takes to push past the $1 billion milestone? Only time will tell. The Star Wars series relies mainly on streaming shows these days, but a handful of theatrical movies are invarious stages of productionas we speak. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Three years into the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan pursues a new threat, while Anakin is lured by Chancellor Palpatine into a sinister plot to rule the galaxy.
