This weekend, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace brought in an estimated $14.5 million at the worldwide box office, a remarkable sum for a 25-year-old movie rerelease.
In honor of its 25th anniversary and in conjunction with May 4th, popularly known as Star Wars Day, the movie opened on Friday. It earned $8.1 million domestically, placing it in second place at the box office. 2,700 theaters around the country screened it, including 130 specialty motion D-Box/4D auditoriums and 150 Premium Large Format screens.
In April of last year, for instance, the 40th anniversary re-release of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi debuted with an opening weekend gross of $5.1 million.
When The Phantom Menace debuted in 1999, it became an instant hit in popular culture.
The movie, which starred Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, and Natalie Portman and was directed by George Lucas, the man behind Star Wars, broke box office records. Over the past 20 years, the movie has gained appeal among a new generation of fans.
The movie narrates the beginnings of Anakin Skywalker, who would later transform into the menacing Darth Vader. The famous scenes, inventive writing, and cutting-edge cinematography found in this science fiction fantasy classic are all characteristics of the Star Wars franchise.
Alongside the reissue of The Phantom Menace, an exclusive look at Star Wars: The Acolyte, a forthcoming Disney+ series, was released. The show starts on June 4.
The movie is also being screened in a large number of foreign theaters, including those in the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Australia, Japan, Mexico, and Brazil.
Disney+ is currently offering streaming for Star Wars: The Phantom Menace as well as the complete Star Wars trilogy.