Twenty years later, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith is back in theatres and it’s pulling in numbers that a lot of new releases would envy.
The one-week 20th anniversary re-release opened strong with $11.3 million on its first day, including Thursday night previews. For context, that’s higher than the entire opening weekend of Avatar’s 2022 re-release, and it even edged out re-releases like Titanic and The Phantom Menace.
Projections now expect Revenge of the Sith to close the weekend between $25 and $30 million. If it crosses $30.2 million, it will beat the 2011 3D re-release of The Lion King to claim the best opening weekend for a modern reissue. It’s a reminder that, even after two decades, Revenge of the Sith still hits hard for a lot of Star Wars fans.
It’s also holding its own against brand-new movies. Early tracking shows it will likely take the #2 spot at the box office this weekend, only trailing the current leader Sinners. That puts it ahead of new releases like The Accountant 2, which is no small achievement for a film first released in 2005.
Part of the reason the film resonates so strongly is the material itself. Revenge of the Sith remains one of the most emotionally charged Star Wars entries. It’s the tragic pivot point where Anakin Skywalker falls to the dark side, where the Republic collapses, and where the galaxy changes forever. George Lucas’ focus on political manipulation, personal betrayal, and the collapse of friendship gives the film a heavier tone compared to the rest of the prequel trilogy. Over time, its reputation has only grown, especially with fans who were young when it first released and now see it with fresh eyes.
Seeing it again on the big screen with modern sound and projection only highlights how bold some of Lucas’ choices were. From the slow build of Palpatine’s influence to the final duel on Mustafar, Revenge of the Sith delivers some of the most iconic and painful moments in the entire saga.
We’ll be keeping an eye on the final numbers as they come in. One thing’s clear: twenty years later, Revenge of the Sith is still a force to be reckoned with.