The famed far, far away galaxy returned to cinema this weekend, and the Force was with it. STAR WARS: EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH, the third and final film in George Lucas’ Prequel Trilogy, was re-released for its upcoming 20thanniversary (May 19th), and earned a most-impressive $42.2 million at the worldwide box office. It pulled in $25.2 million domestically, helping it finish in second place for the weekend…beating out THE ACCOUNTANT 2. This is one of the top-grossing re-releases in history domestically, finishing behind the re-issue of STAR WARS ($36 million), in the 1997 Special Edition release, and THE LION KING ($30 million) in the 2011 3D release.
The big numbers are seen as a victory for fans of the film. Response on social media (of all places), has been very positive, and fan reaction from seeing returning actors Hayden Christensen and Samuel L. Jackson making surprise appearances at screenings has been electric. For others, the reaction has been a surprise. Despite a healthy 79% approval rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, many fans still consider it to be one of the worst STAR WARS films. Reel Speak ranks it 9th out of the 11 films (more on that below), and the film generally seems to get lumped in with the other two films. But now…it came back and made big money.
How is this possible?
Age, and time have been kind to REVENGE OF THE SITH. Fans who were kids in 2005 are now in their late twenties and early thirties, and a return to the theatre can be a big wave of nostalgia. Older fans who grew up with the Original Trilogy (1977-1983), who may not have loved SITH in 2005, now have twenty years of maturity to look at the film in a new light; it’s possible that its better than we remembered. Also, new owners Disney have done a fair amount of “rehab” work in recent years with their new films and streaming series; filling in gaps and beefing up old storylines that now gives SITH some better consistency in the overall Saga.
And let’s face it: it’s STAR WARS. A year ago, EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE pulled in a respectable $14.1 million for its 25th anniversary re-release, showing that the franchise still has a presence on the big screen. STAR WARS has proven its resilience and can endure more than any other franchise. There is no better spectacle or feeling when that big logo slams on the screen and the music starts. No better sense of awe when Darth Vader’s breathing or the hum of a lightsaber fills the auditorium. This franchise is still a cinematic force.
*
Read Real Speak’s ranking of the STAR WARS films HERE.
No comments:
Post a Comment
A few rules:
1. Personal attacks not tolerated.
2. Haters welcome, if you can justify it.
3. Swearing is goddamn OK.