Disney’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Cost Nearly $600 Million, Making It One of the Most Expensive Movies Ever

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A recent report in *Forbes* by journalist Caroline Reid reveals that it cost Disney a massive $593.7 million to make *Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker*. This makes it the third most expensive film ever produced, following only *The Force Awakens* and *Jurassic World: Dominion* in terms of production costs.

Surprisingly, the movie cost less to make than planned, even though it almost reached a $600 million budget.

A Galaxy of Expenses

As a movie buff, I always wonder what these massive blockbusters *really* cost to make. A recent report by Reid pulled back the curtain a bit, and it’s pretty eye-opening. Because Disney shot the last three *Star Wars* films in the UK, all the financial details are actually public record. Apparently, *The Rise of Skywalker* ended up costing a whopping $593.7 million – and that’s after costs went up another $10.1 million last year! It really highlights just how expensive these big-budget films are to produce.

This is just a little less than the £452 million spent on *The Force Awakens*, and only slightly behind *Jurassic World: Dominion*, which cost £453.6 million.

We know these figures because the UK film industry is remarkably open about its finances. As Reid points out, studios filming in the UK can get back up to 25.5% of their spending, as long as at least 10% of the film’s budget is spent there. To claim this reimbursement, they have to submit detailed and official financial reports, which provide valuable data for journalists and industry experts.

Coming In Under Budget

Despite widespread belief that *The Rise of Skywalker* significantly exceeded its budget because of a hurried production and extensive reshoots, official financial records paint a different picture. The documents show the film was on track with its budget after initial filming wrapped in early 2019, and it actually finished under budget by the end of the year.

Editor Maryann Brandon explained on The Rough Cut podcast that the film’s editing schedule was rushed. Disney executives demanded the movie be released in December 2019, cutting three months from the usual editing process. They didn’t want to delay the release, as that would have meant more time and money spent on production and post-production.

J.J. Abrams hinted at the film’s smoother production process in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, noting they needed fewer reshoots compared to “The Force Awakens.” That first film served as a kind of experiment to see if the actors and characters could successfully relaunch the Star Wars franchise. By the time they made “The Rise of Skywalker,” the studio had a better understanding of what worked and what didn’t, making the process more streamlined.

These combined elements allowed Disney to complete the movie more quickly and affordably than anticipated, although some critics believe the rushed schedule negatively impacted the story’s coherence.

The Cost of a Galaxy Far, Far Away

According to Reid’s report, Disney was able to recover some of its massive costs for the film. The UK’s film reimbursement program provided a $103.8 million refund, reducing the studio’s overall spending to $489.9 million.

Although *The Rise of Skywalker* grossed over $1.077 billion worldwide, its actual profit for Disney was much lower. Because theaters typically keep half of the ticket sales, Disney would have received around $538.5 million. After accounting for this split, the film’s profit was only about $48.6 million *before* considering additional expenses or income from sources like streaming and merchandise.

That small profit doesn’t include marketing expenses, which can easily add $150–$200 million to the cost of a major movie. Disney doesn’t share how much it spends on promotion. However, the film continued to earn money from Blu-rays, streaming, and Star Wars merchandise—although, as Reid points out, most of these products are tied to the Star Wars brand as a whole, not just individual movies.

Because of all these factors, it’s difficult to determine an exact profit or loss. However, the information reveals just how small the profit margin can be, even for hugely successful movies.

The Bigger Picture: A Franchise in Retreat

Although *The Rise of Skywalker* did okay at the box office, it signaled a significant shift for the Star Wars franchise. According to Reid, the film didn’t generate enough profit to ensure the series’ continued success, and no Star Wars movies have been released in theaters since.

Honestly, I’m glad Lucasfilm shifted gears and started focusing on shows for Disney+ like *The Mandalorian*, *Andor*, and *Ahsoka*. They were able to tell great stories without the huge financial pressure of big theatrical releases. Now, they’re bringing *The Mandalorian & Grogu* to the big screen next year, and I’m really curious to see if people are still excited about the *Star Wars* universe in theaters. It’ll be a good test to see where things are headed!

Disney’s financial reports show how its movie-making approach has changed since Bob Iger came back as CEO. Even movies that do reasonably well, like *The Rise of Skywalker*, are incredibly expensive to make—almost half a billion dollars. This means even a slight box office failure could erase profits earned over several years.

A Warning for Hollywood’s Future

When a movie costs $593.7 million to produce but earns less than $50 million in theaters, it’s a warning sign – not just for Disney, but for the entire film industry. The competition to create huge blockbusters has driven up production costs so much that even profitable films struggle to make money without additional revenue from merchandise or streaming services.

As a recent report in *Forbes* shows, while *The Rise of Skywalker* finished its trilogy within its budget, it serves as a cautionary tale. Big-budget special effects and even huge box office numbers don’t automatically translate into large profits.

As *The Mandalorian & Grogu* movie nears its 2026 release, Disney will discover if fans are eager to revisit these characters – or if interest in the Star Wars universe has waned.

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2025-10-14 22:58