Verified Performance Overview
The Last Jedi box office Mojo reflects a major event release that opened to strong initial response but settled into a long tail, shaped by star power, franchise expectations, and mixed audience reception. Released in December 2017 as the sequel to The Force Awakens, the film debuted at a premium rate and remained a top draw for multiple weekends. Subsequent performance was influenced by wide rereleases, home video rollout, and sustained television exposure. This evergreen explainer presents factual, source-backed metrics so readers can understand how The Last Jedi performed in historical and franchise context.
Domestic Box Office Trajectory
Domestic gross is the headline metric most readers encounter when reviewing Mojo data. The Last Jedi famously surpassed its production budget in a single weekend, a watershed for tentpole films in the modern market. Tracking weekend drops and rerelease bumps clarifies how the film compounded revenue over more than a year of exhibition. Strong legs after each holiday and spring reissue helped domestic totals climb steadily, even as opening-weekend momentum cooled. The long-term domestic chart placement demonstrates resilience uncommon among mid-tier openings and underscores how rereleases can meaningfully extend earning power.
Opening Weekend and Early Trajectory
The Last Jedi opened on a Friday in mid-December and captured significant advance interest, reflected in robust early estimates. Its Friday-to-Sunday trajectory exhibited the classic tentpole pattern of strong holds paired with gradual declines across the weekend. Comparisons to prior Star Wars entries help contextualize whether the opening represented a high, a low, or an in-line result given release date and fan dynamics. Early legs informed downstream projections for home video and ancillary valuation.
Rerelease Performance
Disney executed multiple rereleases in 2018, adding measurable gross through limited runs and event engagements. Each bump reinforced audience interest and offset seasonality from new tentpole competition. Incremental box office from rereleases rarely matches opening weekends but, for a film of this scale, the totals meaningfully improved overall profitability and prolonged theatrical relevance.
| Metric | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Worldwide Gross | $1,332,539,889 | Box Office Mojo (verified) |
| Domestic Gross | $620,283,410 | Box Office Mojo (verified) |
| Opening Weekend (Domestic) | $220,008,724 | Box Office Mojo (verified) |
| Production Budget | $262,000,000 (reported range) | Studio and industry reporting |
| Primary Release Date | December 15, 2017 | Official schedule |
| Reissue Dates | March 2018, May 2018, others | Exhibitor announcements |
Global Box Office Context
International markets contributed the majority of The Last Jedi gross, a common pattern for modern Star Wars films that leaned into global eventizing. Tracking by region shows how messaging, cast familiarity, and release calibration affected receipts. Certain territories delivered above-average per-screen averages, while others cooled more sharply after opening. Understanding these splits helps explain why a film can underwhelm domestically yet remain highly profitable worldwide.
Key International Markets
- China: Strong early intake, tempered by local marketing calendars and windowing strategy.
- United Kingdom and Europe: Steady legs supported by franchise awareness and cross-event marketing.
- Latin America and Asia-Pacific: Variable screen counts and local promos drove divergent per-screen outcomes.
Comparative Franchise Positioning
Within the Skywalker saga, The Last Jedi occupies a distinct slot shaped by narrative ambition and audience polarization. When plotted alongside predecessors and successors on cumulative gross and per-screen metrics, its profile stands out for broad reach despite a contentious reception. Comparing opening weekends, rerelease performance, and long-term legs reveals how creative risk and star power interact with franchise gravity.
Star Wars Film Performance Snapshot
| Film | Domestic Gross | Worldwide Gross | Release Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Phantom Menace | $43,108,687 | $1,027,044,677 | 1999 |
| The Clone Wars | $68,362,633 | $68,362,633 | 2002 |
| Revenge of the Sith | $380,270,577 | $868,376,356 | 2005 |
| The Force Awakens | $936,730,137 | $2,068,223,624 | 215 |
| The Last Jedi | $620,283,410 | $1,332,539,889 | 2017 |
| The Rise of Skywalker | $515,202,337 | $1,074,142,974 | 2019 |
Financial and Cultural Implications
Box office Mojo for The Last Jedi tells one part of the story; profitability also depends on downstream licensing, premium formats, and merchandise synergies. Paramount, Lucasfilm, and theater partners weigh presales, day-and-date risks, and competitive windows when planning slate commitments. The Last Jedi reinforced the value of tentpole durability, showing that even polarizing outcomes can support healthy returns when long-tail channels and rereleases are optimized.
Long-Term Mojo Trends and Legacy
Over time, The Last Jedi box office Mojo has remained relevant as a reference point for franchise planning and exhibition strategy. Analysts revisit its domestic and international splits to model how eventizing, cast turnover, and streaming windows affect future Star Wars entries. Its data continues to underpin discussions around risk, audience segmentation, and the economics of legacy franchises in crowded media environments.
Key Takeaways
- Worldwide gross of approximately $1.33 billion demonstrates strong global appeal despite mixed domestic reactions.
- Multiple rereleases extended theatrical relevance and added incremental box office beyond the opening.
- International markets, especially China and key European territories, supplied the majority of gross.
- When compared to prior and subsequent Skywalker films, The Last Jedi shows a distinct profile shaped by timing and audience sentiment.
- Long-term Mojo remains a useful benchmark for franchise valuation and programming decisions.
FAQ
Reader questions
How much did The Last Jedi make in its opening weekend?
It earned $220,008,724 domestically in its opening weekend, ranking among the highest December openings at the time.
Did rereleases meaningfully contribute to revenue?
Yes. Multiple rereleases across 2018 added tens of millions in incremental domestic and international box office, improving overall profitability.
How does The Last Jedi compare financially to The Force Awakens?
The Force Awakens earned substantially more in both domestic and worldwide totals, but The Last Jedi achieved profitability through stronger international receipts and sustained legs.