The Disney era ofStar Warskicked off with a big bang last December whenStar Wars: The Force Awakenscame out. It will be hard to imagine any movie ever capturing that much hype again, butStar Wars: Rogue Oneis going to give it a good try. As of right now, the movie is tracking for a monstrous opening weekend of around $130 million domestically.
The Hollywood Reporter reported the $130 million figure for Disney’s very firstStar Wars spinoff movie, which would be a massive success for the studio.Rogue One: A Star Wars Storyhas very high expectations placed on it, both in terms of quality and box office, just by virtue of the fact that it is aStar Warsmovie. If it does cross $130 million on its opening weekend, that would be one of the biggest of 2016. It will have a pretty tough time toppingCaptain America: Civil War($179 million) orBatman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice($166 million).
Disney also had a massive opening withFinding Dorythis summer, which brought in $135 million on its opening weekend, but that figure seems well within reach forRogue One: A Star Wars Storyat this point. A bigopening weekendlike that could help propel Disney to a staggering $7 billion total at the worldwide box office this year. If there is one thing we have learned it is not to underestimate the power of Disney, especially when combined with the power ofStar Wars. WhenStar Wars: The Force Awakensdebuted last year, it shattered the opening weekend record, bringing in $247 million domestically. Many blockbuster movies don’t even make that during their theatrical run.Rogue One: A Star Wars Storymay not even match the total ofThe Force Awakens' second weekend, which brought in a staggering $149 million. That said, Disney has been tempering expectations for this movie all along. Here is what Disney chairmanBob Igersaid back in September.
“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.”
One thing thatRogue One: A Star Wars Storywill have going for it thatStar Wars: The Force Awakensdidn’t is the presence ofDarth Vader, arguably the greatest movie villain of all time. Because of the placement of the movie within theStar Warstimeline, directorGareth Edwardswas able to make use of the famed Sith Lord. Not only that, butJames Earl Jonesreturned to once again provide the voice of Darth Vader. With the villain being an increasingly prominent focus of the marketing material, that may help propel the movie beyond these early estimates.
Presale tickets forRogue One: A Star Wars Storyare already on sale in the U.K and are expected to go on sale in the U.S. very soon. Once the presale numbers start coming in, we will have a better idea of just how high this movie can fly on opening weekend.Rogue One: A Star Wars Storyis set for release onDecember 16.
