The Real Cost of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Finally Revealed!

Get ready, Padawans, because some newly unearthed financial documents are spilling the tea on just how much money went into making 2019's Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. And let's just say, the Force was definitely with Disney's bank account, even if it wasn't always with the fans!

TL;DR: Quick Takes for Busy Fans

• Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker's official total production cost hit a staggering $593.7 million, making it one of the most expensive films ever made.
• Thanks to generous UK tax incentives, Disney's net spending on the movie was reduced to a still-huge $489.9 million, resulting in a modest theatrical profit of $48.6 million.
• Despite grossing over $1 billion worldwide, the film's immense budget and mixed fan reception made its overall profitability a complex puzzle, leading to a theatrical hiatus for Star Wars until The Mandalorian & Grogu in 2026.

The Galactic Price Tag: How Much Did This Blockbuster Actually Cost?

We've all heard tales of massive blockbuster budgets, but sometimes the real numbers can still make your jaw drop faster than a Star Destroyer under a well-placed proton torpedo. Recent tax documents, brought to light by Forbes and other outlets, have unveiled the true, eye-watering cost of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Prepare yourself: the final chapter of the Skywalker Saga officially cost a whopping $593.7 million to produce.

That's not a typo, folks. That monstrous figure solidifies its place as the third most expensive movie in history, just behind its predecessor, The Force Awakens (around $600 million), and Jurassic World: Dominion (approximately $603 million). Suddenly, that "reported" budget of $416 million that was floating around back in 2019 looks like pocket change.

Now, before you start thinking Disney lost its mind, there's a crucial piece of the puzzle: filming in the UK. The United Kingdom offers some seriously sweet tax incentives for studios, reimbursing up to 25.5% of the money spent in the country, provided at least 10% of the film's core costs are incurred there. Because of these rules, studios have to file legally-binding financial statements, which is how these numbers eventually came to light. Disney was able to claim a hefty $103.8 million back in reimbursements for The Rise of Skywalker. This brought their net spending down to a slightly less staggering, but still gigantic, $489.9 million.

It really highlights why so many big productions choose to film outside the US, where budgets are usually shrouded in secrecy! These incentives can make a huge difference to the bottom line, even for a studio as massive as Disney.

Box Office Blast Off: Did This Expensive Adventure Actually Make Money?

So, a nearly $600 million movie. Sounds like a guaranteed money-maker, right? Well, The Rise of Skywalker did perform incredibly well at the global box office, grossing over $1.077 billion worldwide. On the surface, that looks like a huge win for Disney. But here's where it gets a little complicated for film economics buffs.

Theaters typically take a significant cut, usually around 50% of ticket sales. Applying that industry standard, Disney would have walked away with roughly $538.5 million from the theatrical run. If you crunch the numbers – Disney's share ($538.5 million) minus their net cost ($489.9 million) – you're left with a theatrical profit of approximately $48.6 million. That's a profit, sure, but for a movie that cost almost half a billion dollars after tax breaks, it's a relatively slim margin from the box office alone!

Of course, the box office isn't the only revenue stream for a massive franchise like Star Wars. Studios like Disney make bank on:

• Home Entertainment: Think Blu-ray, DVD, and video-on-demand (VOD) sales.
• Merchandising: This is Star Wars we're talking about! Toys, apparel, collectibles, and theme park experiences are absolute goldmines.
• Streaming: The film's eventual home on Disney+ adds long-term value and subscriber retention.

However, it's also important to remember that these figures don't include the enormous marketing costs, which can easily add another $100-200 million or more to the total expenditure. Disney doesn't typically disclose these figures for individual films, and attributing specific merchandise or streaming revenue solely to one movie can be tricky. So, while it certainly wasn't a financial flop in the traditional sense, determining its exact overall profit margin is a much more complex calculation.

Behind the Scenes: A Turbulent Production Journey for the Skywalker Finale

What's truly remarkable about The Rise of Skywalker's budget revelation is that, despite its staggering cost, the film actually came in under budget. How does that happen with such a massive price tag? It seems to boil down to efficiency (or perhaps, a bit of a rush) in post-production. Editor Maryann Brandon noted in an interview that the team had about three months less to work on The Rise of Skywalker compared to The Force Awakens, due to Disney's firm commitment to the December 2019 release date. This accelerated schedule "affected everything," but it also meant less time (and presumably less money) spent in the later stages.

Director J.J. Abrams also confirmed that The Rise of Skywalker required fewer reshoots than The Force Awakens. He explained that with the first sequel, they were still figuring out if the new characters and actors would work. By Episode IX, they "knew who and what worked," which helped streamline the process. Fewer reshoots mean fewer additional costs, which contributed to keeping the film "below the production budget" by the end of 2019.

This film also had a bit of a rocky path to the screen, with Colin Trevorrow originally slated to direct Episode IX, even developing a version titled Duel of the Fates. Creative differences led to his departure, and Abrams stepped back in to wrap up the trilogy. Trevorrow later spoke about his personal struggle to re-engage with the franchise after his experience:

“My son and I have both decided that we are going to watch all of Andor this summer. But I do have to be honest; it has been a struggle for me to engage with anything Star Wars-related just on an emotional level. So, to the team that made Andor, I guess I can say that you’re the ones who’ve finally brought me back in.” — Colin Trevorrow, former director of Episode IX

The Fan Reaction: A Divisive Ending to an Epic Saga

Money talks, but so do fans, and The Rise of Skywalker definitely sparked a galaxy-wide debate. Despite its billion-dollar haul, the movie holds a rather lukewarm 51% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the lowest-rated live-action Star Wars film. Many viewers felt it rushed its story, trying to course-correct after The Last Jedi while leaning heavily on nostalgia and bringing back Emperor Palpatine without enough explanation.

Some felt it struggled to deliver a satisfying emotional and logical conclusion to the nine-part Skywalker Saga, leaving a sense of emptiness compared to other grand finales. The film featured an impressive returning and new cast, including Daisy Ridley as Rey, Adam Driver as Kylo Ren/Ben Solo, John Boyega as Finn, Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron, Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, the late Carrie Fisher (through unreleased footage) as Leia Organa, Ian McDiarmid as Emperor Palpatine, and Anthony Daniels as C-3PO. Yet, even with such talent, the narrative choices left many divided.

What's Next for Star Wars on the Big Screen After a Long Pause?

Following The Rise of Skywalker, the Star Wars franchise largely shifted its focus to streaming with hugely successful shows like The Mandalorian and Obi-Wan Kenobi. But the galaxy far, far away is finally making its long-awaited return to the big screen. Get ready for:

• The Mandalorian & Grogu: Set to hit theaters on May 22, 2026, this film will see Pedro Pascal back in his iconic armor, continuing the adventures of Din Djarin and everyone's favorite little green guy. The trailer, which dropped in September 2025, even teased the appearance of Rotta the Hutt, voiced by Emmy-winner Jeremy Allen White!
• Shawn Levy's Star Wars: Starfighter: Slated for May 28, 2027, with Ryan Gosling starring.
• Daisy Ridley's New Jedi Order movie: This project will explore Rey's efforts to rebuild the Jedi Order.
• James Mangold's Dawn of the Jedi film: Exploring the ancient origins of the Jedi.

While several other projects have been announced and subsequently shelved over the years, these upcoming films mark a renewed commitment to the theatrical experience for Star Wars fans. Time will tell if they can recapture the cinematic magic and prove to be as profitable (or more so) than the very expensive Skywalker finale.

Frequently Asked Questions About The Rise of Skywalker

How much did The Rise of Skywalker officially cost to make? The total production cost for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was revealed to be $593.7 million. After UK tax reimbursements, Disney's net spending was $489.9 million. Did The Rise of Skywalker make a profit? From its theatrical run alone, The Rise of Skywalker made an estimated profit of $48.6 million for Disney after accounting for theater cuts and net production costs. However, this doesn't include massive marketing expenses, nor does it fully account for significant revenue from home entertainment, merchandise, and streaming, making an overall profit calculation complex but likely positive. Where can I watch Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker? Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is currently available to stream in the US on Disney+. It's also available for rent or purchase on various digital platforms and on Blu-ray/DVD. What's the next Star Wars movie coming out? The next Star Wars movie scheduled for theatrical release is The Mandalorian & Grogu, set to debut on May 22, 2026. Sources

• No Film School - Tax Documents Revealed 'Rise of Skywalker' Cost How Much?!
• Forbes - Cost Of 'Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker' Approaches $600 Million
• MovieWeb - Cost Of 'Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker' Approaches $600 Million
• CBR - Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Total Cost Revealed for 2025
• Screen Rant - New Report Reveals STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER Cost Disney Almost $600 Million
• GamesRadar+ - The true budget for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker has been revealed – and it's almost a record-breaking figure
• GeekTyrant - New Report Reveals STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER Cost Disney Almost $600 Million
• FandomWire - New Report Reveals STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER Cost Disney Almost $600 Million