Photo Credit: [Solo: A Star Wars Story] Lucasfilm
The Star Wars franchise currently consists of 10 films: Eight episodic movies and 2 standalone entries that seek to expand the universe. We break down the current state of the Star Wars ‘stories’ since the Disney merger.
In 2012, Disney acquired Lucasfilm and promised they’d be releasing new Star Wars movies. This meant they’d be creating the seventh episode in the saga to follow the earlier six. Disney caught fans off guard, however, by simultaneously announcing that they’d be making standalone movies that didn’t directly connect to the Skywalker story associated with Episodes I-VI. What a time to be alive.
Since that fateful day, George Lucas has cashed his check for $4 billion, and we’ve gotten two, count-em, two Star Wars stories. The first one, Rogue One, released in December of 2016 and was praised by critics and fans alike. Solo, which hit theaters on May 25th, has received fewer compliments and has struggled at the box office.
Why such a discrepancy? Is Rogue One that much better than Solo: A Star Wars Story?
The short answer? Yes. Rogue One is arguably the better movie. It’s got a diverse cast of new characters, seamlessly blends emotional moments with heart-pounding action, and tells a story that did deserve to be told. It also taps into everything that makes a good Star Wars film: a reluctant hero, an epic space battle, and a lightsaber scene reminiscent of Revenge of the Sith’s younglings slaughter.
Rogue One’s quality showed at the box office as it grossed over $150 million during its opening weekend and made over $1 billion worldwide by the end of its run in theaters.
Compare that to Solo’s lackluster opening weekend numbers: the film grossed just over $80 million.
Photo Credit: [Rogue One: A Star Wars Story]Lucasfilm
It’s a Rebellion, isn’t it?
Does that mean Rogue One is twice as good as Solo? Certainly not! There’s a multitude of factors that led to the box office struggles of the second Disney standalone Star Wars film, and Solo’s quality is not one of them.
First, we need to establish that I absolutely loved Solo. I was pleasantly surprised by how well Alden Ehrenreich portrayed the famous smuggler. The rest of the cast, particularly Donald Glover, were also tremendous in their respective roles.
I thought the film had good pacing, strong action sequences, and maintained a serious personality while still being fun (something The Last Jedi seriously failed at).
I place Solo just behind Rogue One and ahead of The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi in my unofficial ranking of the Disney era Star Wars films.
So if Solo is such a solid entry in the franchise, why is it receiving lukewarm reception and performing relatively poorly at the box office?
The first reason is likely that Solo is a movie that no one asked for, and no one particularly wanted. In fact, many fans were deathly afraid when a film about a young Han Solo not starring Harrison Ford was announced.
Photo Credit: [Solo: A Star Wars Story] Lucasfilm
Fans were unsure of what a new Han Solo would look like
Both hardcore and casual fans were apprehensive from the get-go, and many are remaining hesitant, even after the film’s release.
Couple the recasting of the most iconic smuggler in the galaxy with the real-world production issues associated with Solo and you get a perfect storm of fan reluctance with wind speeds rivaling those of the Kessel Run.
More from Dork Side of the Force
- Daniel José Older named a High Republic Adventures character after someone special
- How animation changed Star Wars: Ewoks and Droids
- Kelleran Beq comes to Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes
- The Mandalorian’s Pedro Pascal becomes No. 1 on IMDb’s Starmeter for 2023
- Unwrapping the Star Wars LEGO Advent Calendar: Day 7
Another factor to consider is the current state of Star Wars overall. Rogue One was the follow up to The Force Awakens, which was the first Star Wars film in ten years, smashed box office records, and received universal praise. It was also the first standalone Star Wars film not directly about the Skywalkers.
This piqued many fans’ interests. Solo, on the other hand, was the follow up to The Last Jedi, which, despite receiving acclaim from critics and also smashing it at the box office, deeply split the Star Wars fan base. Many fans even pledged to boycott Solo because of their hatred for The Last Jedi.
It isn’t that Rogue One is that much better than Solo. It’s that both films are products of circumstance. At the end of the day, I love both, and rank them as my two favorites of the Disney era Star Wars films.
ORLANDO, FL – APRIL 13: STAR WARS fans attend the 40 Years of Star Wars panel during the 2017 Star Wars Celebrationat Orange County Convention Center on April 13, 2017 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images for Disney)
Next: Han Solo most memorable moments
Moral of the story is that the Star Wars ‘stories’ are alive and well, and have thus far been interesting, worthy entries in the galaxy far, far away. If you haven’t seen Solo yet, what are you waiting for?
Solo: A Star Wars Story is currently playing in theaters.