Premiere Date, Location, and Cast
The Star Wars The Last Jedi premiere took place in Los Angeles on December 9, 2017, with the wide theatrical release following on December 15, 2017. The event was directed by Rian Johnson and produced by Lucasfilm, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. The cast includes Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, and Luke Skywalker actor Mark Hamill returning to the franchise. For more on the Lucasfilm and Disney structure, see this overview from Forbes Star Wars The Last Jedi Premiere Overview.
Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy oversaw production, with John Williams returning to compose the score. The film runs 152 minutes and was rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi violence and action. The premiere included red carpet arrivals at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, with cast and crew participating in interviews and fan events leading up to the screening.
Box Office and Financial Performance
Star Wars The Last Jedi earned approximately $1.332 billion worldwide during its initial theatrical run, making it one of the highest-grossing films of 2017. Domestic box office accounted for about $620 million, while international markets contributed the remainder. The production budget was reported at around $200 million, not including marketing costs.
Box office analysts noted that the film faced competition from other holiday releases and had a strong opening weekend of about $220 million in the United States and Canada. The film also generated significant revenue from home entertainment, streaming licensing, and merchandise. For broader box office context, see this report from Forbes Star Wars The Last Jedi Box Office.
Critical Reception and Audience Metrics
Star Wars The Last Jedi received mixed but largely positive reviews from critics, with an approval rating of around 91% on Rotten Tomatoes based on hundreds of reviews. Audience scores were also strong, with CinemaScore audiences giving the film an average grade of A on an A+ to F scale. The film was praised for its visual effects, action sequences, and performances, particularly by Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver.
Public reception online included significant discussion on social media platforms, with the film generating millions of mentions during its opening weekend. Some fan communities debated plot choices and character arcs, but overall engagement remained high. The film also received several award nominations, including Visual Effects and Original Score categories. For more on audience and critical response, see this analysis from Forbes Star Wars The Last Jedi Reviews.