Yikes, things for Lucasfilm just went from bad to worse.
Although the full four-day estimate won’t be released until later today, I think it’s safe to say that Solo: A Star Wars Story will not be gunning for the Memorial Day holiday weekend box office record anymore. We learned yesterday that the Ron Howard-directed space western hauled in $83.3 million in its opening weekend and will finish off Monday with about $110 million, nowhere even remotely near the current record holder, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End ($140M).
The total, mind you, was also a little more than $10 million behind the figure put up by Justice League, another highly anticipated blockbuster that disappointed during opening weekend. When you mix the divisive reviews and production troubles with the fact that many people weren’t interested in seeing anyone else other than Harrison Ford portray the titular character in the first place, it isn’t exactly surprising that Solo: A Star Wars Story bombed at the box office.
However, coming mere weeks after massive hits Avengers: Infinity War and the just-released Deadpool 2, Solo is, at the very least, performing decently. Nonetheless, someone will still have to answer for the first real flop in Lucasfilm history, and the fandom has already begun pointing blame at The Last Jedi.
The Rian Johnson-directed movie currently holds the lowest audience score of any live-action Star Wars film on Rotten Tomatoes, with a viewership approval rating of only 46%. People were in such an uproar ahead of Solo‘s release, in fact, that they went so far as to call a boycott on it. Considering that The Force Awakens ($247M) and The Last Jedi ($220M) currently sit second and third, respectively, on the all-time opening weekend list, I think it’s fair to assume the spurning worked.
Not only that, but fans have also taken to Twitter to voice their thoughts, with the below Tweets showing you that many are placing the blame on Johnson’s December blockbuster.
https://twitter.com/cinejuegostv/status/998919090289987585
Yikes.. Looks like empty theaters for #SoloAStarWarsStory overseas today. It's not just fans on a #BoycottSolo mission, but people are turned off on #StarWars after The Last Jedi. pic.twitter.com/vjFIPZDvGF
— Dataracer (@Dataracer117) May 24, 2018
https://twitter.com/Lucky_9_9/status/1000839831017095170
https://twitter.com/SYNCHRONICDSGN/status/1000839191947808768
Did you hate The Last Jedi? Are you upset about the current direction Disney is taking Star Wars? If so, Boycott Solo this weekend to send a message to Disney. #boycottSolo pic.twitter.com/XXFBsy0JGY
— Jerry Lee Colbert (@jerryleecolbert) May 22, 2018
Listen @RobertIger , It’s not @starwars Fatigue that’s the problem, we’re upset with @rianjohnson #lastJedi and the treatment of @HamillHimself and other characters. I don’t have @MarvelStudios Fatigue. Kathleen and Rian need to go.#LiberalThatHatesTheLastJedi #LastJediAwful
— Geek Illustrator Dad (@IllustratorDad) May 27, 2018
https://twitter.com/Kevstar32981877/status/1000731810026983425
It’s not Star Wars fatigue…its being utterly played for a fool with The Last Jedi and then hearing all the production woes with this movie..fans got slapped with Jedi basically saying everything in force awakens that you love we threw out…as a fan not getting my money
— Arpan Sikder (@Arpan55) May 27, 2018
In a year that’s seen three releases enter the domestic top thirty for all-time opening weekends, Deadpool 2 ($125M), Black Panther ($202M) and Avengers: Infinity War ($257M), the box office failure of Solo: A Stars Wars Story is only amplified that much more. What Lucasfilm will do about it remains to be seen, of course, but it’ll be interesting to watch how the studio proceeds with the beloved franchise from here.