What if you had to conclude not just one trilogy but a nine-film franchise? And what if that movie had to retcon the backlash of the previous film? And what if the franchise you're concluding is the "Star Wars" saga, one of the most successful and beloved series of all time? It almost makes you feel sorry for J.J. Abrams ... well, if "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" wasn't so dang disappointing.
Following 2017's controversial "The Last Jedi," which was a big hit with critics but not with moviegoers, and the commercial failure of "Solo: A Star Wars Story," Disney did damage control. The Mouse House brought back Abrams, whose "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" is still the highest-grossing domestic release ever. Surely Abrams would be able to end this story effectively, right? Clearly Disney never watched "Lost" or the "Star Trek" reboot.
Released in 2019, "The Rise of Skywalker" earned poor reviews from critics. Moviegoers kind of liked it, they just didn't show up in record numbers, as it earned just a little over $1 billion worldwide, barely beating the "Star Wars" spinoff "Rogue One" and grossing less than its two "Skywalker Saga" predecessors. "The Rise of Skywalker" felt less like a labor of love and more like a rush job, one that had to deal with the death of Carrie Fisher while actively undoing plot points set up in Rian Johnson's previous film. So, its failure wasn't surprising considering the circumstances but disappointing considering this was the conclusion to "Star Wars."
