The New “Star Wars” Film Ignited the Box Office on Christmas Day

John Boyega as Finn in "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker." Photo by J Olley/Lucasfilm/Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock (10509668d)

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker had some stiff competition at the box office on Christmas Day, but like the Sith, they were no match for the Jedis. 

The holiday season is a coveted time for films to put in their best performances, with many people not working and having more time to spend at the cinema. 

“The holiday corridor is vitally important to the industry and within that period, Christmas has always been the linchpin that directly reflects the enthusiasm by consumers for the slate of films currently in the marketplace and more importantly the allure of wide release newcomers that arrive at the multiplex on that day,” says Paul Dergarabedian of media evaluator, Comscore.

J.J. Abram’s new flick set in a galaxy far, far away earned $32 million at the Christmas Day box office, giving it the second-best performance of all time. The silver achievement is another boon for the Star Wars franchise as 2015’s The Force Awakens remains in the coveted top spot, having earned $49.3 million on December 25th four years ago. 

The Rise of Skywalker is rocketing its way towards the billion-dollar mark. It has so far grossed $516.8 million globally since being released on December 16th