Weekend Box Office Update: ‘The Rise of Skywalker’ Soars, ‘Cats’ Flops

Despite not matching the opening of 2017’s The Last Jedi, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker topped the box office for this weekend with a $175.5 million debut. Making for the third largest opening of the year, the below-expected first weekend gross could be due to modest reception. Nabbing just a 57% approval score on Rotten Tomatoes, as compared to The Last Jedi’s score of 91%, The Rise of Skywalker is the worst rated Star Wars film since 1999’s The Phantom Menace.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s long awaited film adaptation of Cats additionally opened this weekend, ending with just $6.5 million. Making headlines since its trailer released in July, the film has been criticized for its utilization of “digital fur technology.” Finishing just fourth behind Jumanji: The Next Level and Frozen 2, and earning a mere 18% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it is unknown whether a spike in Holiday moviegoers will offer any aid in box office earnings.

A full list of the weekend’s box office can be found below. Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore.

1. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, $175.5 million ($198 million international).

2. Jumanji: The Next Level, $26.1 million ($32.6 million international).

3. Frozen 2, $12.3 million ($31.6 million international).

4. Cats, $6.5 million ($4.4 million international).

5. Knives Out, $6.1 million.

6. Bombshell, $5.1 million.

7. Richard Jewell, $2.6 million.

8. Queen & Slim, $1.9 million.

9. Black Christmas, $1.8 million.

10. Ford v Ferrari, $1.8 million.