'Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker' bombs in China, earns less than 'Solo'
'Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker' is having a rough time,getting panned by critics and fans alike. And its box office figures don't seem entirely promising. The film has opened at 12 million dollars in China, and according to trade analysts and experts, the film will struggle to reach 20 million, if at all. This dismal figure would be the second-lowest for a 'Star Wars' film, following 'Solo', which earned only $16.4 million in China. 'Solo' became the lowest-grossing live-action 'Star Wars' movie worldwide and grossed $392 million in the summer of 2018.
The Disney film, directed by JJ Abrams, was defeated hollow by Donnie Yen's martial arts epic 'Ip Man 4: The Finale', which raked in 47.1 million dollars. It was also beaten by Chinese thriller, 'Sheep Without A Shepherd', which released on December 13, and added $23.6 million in its second weekend.
The 'Star Wars' franchise has not been having it easy in China. 'The Force Awakens' had earned around $124 million, which was a letdown, considering China's market size. 'Rogue One' slipped to $69 million, 'The Last Jedi' dipped further and earned 42.5 million. In fact, in January 2018, The Last Jedi was pulled from Chinese theaters after just two weeks because of its poor performance. 'Solo: A Star Wars Story' raked in around 16.4 million dollars.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, one of the reasons why the 'Star Wars' franchise has been struggling to find foot in China, is because the original three films did not get a wide release in the country. Apart from this, the references and the nostalgia factor did not resonate with the audience, leaving them rather confused. Though Disney has worked hard to spread the magic of Star Wars to the country, it hasn't been successful.
'Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker' released on December 20.