Star Wars : Episode VIII The Last Jedi Star Wars " : Episode VIII " The Last Jedi , marketed as Star Wars : The Last Jedi , is a 2017 film written and directed by Rian Johnson and produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman , along with executive producer J . J . Abrams . It is the second film in the " Star Wars " sequel trilogy . The film sees the return of Mark Hamill , Carrie Fisher , Adam Driver , Daisy Ridley , John Boyega , Oscar Isaac , Lupita Nyong ' o , Domhnall Gleeson , Anthony Daniels , Gwendoline Christie , and Andy Serkis . New cast members include Benicio Del Toro , Laura Dern , and Kelly Marie Tran . " The Last Jedi " begins immediately after the events of , set thirty years after the of the original " Star Wars " trilogy . It continues the story of Rey and her discovery of the exiled Jedi Master Luke Skywalker , along with the story of the war between General Leia Organa ' s Resistance and the First Order . The film was released on December 14 , 2017 in the United Kingdom , Mexico , Latin America , and European countries ; December 15 , 2017 in North America ; and January 5 , 2018 in China . Some North American theaters offered special limited advance showings on the evening of December 14th rather than the traditional midnight showing . The sequel to " The Last Jedi , " , is scheduled for release on December 20 , 2019 , marking the conclusion of the sequel trilogy . Synopsis . Resistance Evacuation . Following their successful operation to destroy Starkiller Base , Resistance fighters led by General Leia Organa , now widowed by the murder of Han Solo at the hands of their own son Ben Solo , alias Kylo Ren , evacuate their main base as a First Order fleet reaches them . The First Order brings in a Dreadnought to destroy the Resistance base but not before the last Resistance personnel evacuate . With his BB droid , BB - 8 , Poe Dameron holds off the First Order vessels by taunting General Armitage Hux . After taking out the Dreadnought ' s point - defense cannons at close range , Dameron leads a counter - attack with a squad of Resistance bombers to destroy the Dreadnought , disobeying orders from General Organa to retreat , and suffers severe losses , including gunner Paige Tico and the entire Cobalt Squadron . The Resistance vessels escape by jumping to lightspeed . Leia reprimands and demotes Poe to Captain for disobeying orders , while Supreme Leader Snoke reprimands General Armitage Hux for his failure to block the evacuation and the loss of a Dreadnought . Hux reveals , however , that the First Order is tracking the Resistance through a hyperspace tracker and a long pursuit begins , with the Resistance relying on their spaceships ' mobility and shields to stay out of effective weapons range while their fuel supplies dwindle . The First Order fleet , led by Snoke , Hux , and Ren aboard the " Mega - " class Star Destroyer " Supremacy , " quickly catches up with the Resistance fleet . Motivated by Snoke ' s harsh dismissal of his efforts to fully embrace the dark side of the Force , Kylo Ren leads a devastating starfighter assault against the Resistance fleet , flying inside the " Raddus ' s " hangar bay to destroy most of the Resistance ' s fighter complement within . " " Lining up for a bombing run on the " Raddus ' s " bridge , Ren hesitates to fire after sensing his mother ' s presence onboard . However , his TIE fighter escorts take the shot , destroying the bridge killing many Resistance leaders , including Admiral Gial Ackbar . Leia survives exposure to space through use of the Force , but is seriously incapacitated , leaving Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo in command . Captain Dameron and Vice Admiral Holdo get off to a rough start , with Holdo reminding Poe of his demotion and dismissing him as a " hot – head " pilot . After awakening from his sleep , a rejuvenated Finn seeks out Rey only to discover that she has already left . Believing his friend to be in danger , Finn tries to seek her out in an escape pod . He encounters a young Resistance mechanic named Rose Tico , who is mourning the death of her older sister Paige , who perished during the earlier bombing run . Rose mistakes Finn for a deserter and stun s him . However , Finn manages to convince Rose that he can help them take out the First Order ' s hyperspace tracker . Finn and Rose convince Poe about the viability of their plan . After Maz Kanata calls them on hologram , they consult with her and she tells them to seek out the Master Codebreaker on Canto Bight . Disapproving of Vice Admiral Holdo ' s leadership , Poe dispatches Finn , Rose , and his BB - series droid BB - 8 to seek out the Master Codebreaker . Training on Ahch - To . Having arrived on the waterworld of Ahch - To with the Wookiee Chewbacca and astromech droid R2 - D2 aboard the " Millennium Falcon " , the Force - sensitive Rey meets Jedi Master Luke Skywalker . Luke refuses to initiate her in the ways of the Force because of his past failure when teaching Ren , even after learning of Han ' s murder . Unbeknownst to Luke , Rey and Ren begin communicating with each other through involuntary shared visions . Prodded by R2 - D2 , Luke eventually agrees to teach Rey , showing her the ancient texts within the first Jedi Temple and telling her to reject her simplistic view of the Force as cleanly defined between the light and the dark side . He is , however , deeply perturbed by her lack of caution when approaching the dark side . Rey and Ren continue to experience shared visions and Rey excoriates him for murdering Han Solo , while Ren mocks her need to find replacement parental figures , first in Han and now Luke . Continuing his attempt to train her , Luke lectures Rey on the failures of the Jedi Order and Rey realizes that Luke has shut himself off from the Force . Rey travels to a cavern beneath the island where the dark side is powerful and experiences a vision while touching a reflective rock wall , asking to see her parents but seeing only her own reflection . She resolves to abandon her Jedi training and leave Ahch - To . Luke revisits the cliffside outcrop where he first began training Rey and attempts to re - open his connection to the Force , succeeding when he makes mental contact with an unconscious Leia . In another shared vision , Ren claims to Rey that Luke grew afraid of Ren ' s growing power and tried to murder him while he was asleep and defenceless . They are soon discovered by Luke , by now reconnected to the Force . Luke angrily destroys Rey ' s hut with the Force and demands that she leave Ahch - To immediately , but Rey attacks him in her rage . Proving to be more than a match for her , Luke easily stops Rey ' s attacks and disarms her , but submits when she threatens him with his own lightsaber . He confesses that he contemplated killing a sleeping Ben Solo upon discovering his corruption by Snoke but instantly relented . Ben , however awoke to see Luke standing over him with an ignited lightsaber and immediately counter - attacked , destroying Luke ' s new Jedi Temple and disappearing to become Kylo Ren . Unable to convince Luke to join the Resistance , Rey leaves Ahch - To without him to confront Ren , hoping to turn him to the light side , succeeding where Luke failed . Luke attempts to destroy the ancient Jedi texts but is interrupted by the ghost of Yoda . As Luke hesitates at the task , Yoda himself summons a thunderbolt to destroy the library , then tells Luke that the most important lessons that masters can give are their failures . Finding a Codebreaker . Finn , Rose , and BB - 8 travel aboard a Resistance transport pod to the city of Canto Bight on the planet Cantonica in the Corporate Sector . Canto Bight is the haunt of wealthy war profiteers who sell weapons to both the First Order and the Resistance . The three Resistance operatives park their transport on a public peace , antagonizing the Abednedo businessman Slowen Lo , who alerts the Canto Bight Police Department . While Finn is mesmerized by the wealth and opulence of Canto Bight , Rose tells him that the city is built on exploitation . While watching a fathier race at the Canto Bight racetrack , the two witness a child racer being beaten by an overseer . Finn , Rose , and BB - 8 then make their way inside the Canto Casino where they try to make contact with the Master Codebreaker , who is dancing with " Lovey " . However , the three are promptly arrested by Canto Bight police officers for their traffic violation . At the Canto Bight police headquarters , Finn and Rose encounter the slicer DJ , who offers to help them disable the First Order ' s hyperspace tracker in return for freedom . With the help of BB - 8 , the Resistance operatives and DJ escape the police headquarters . Pursued by the police , they head to the fathier stables where Rose manages to convince the stable boy Temiri Blagg to help them escape by leaving him a Resistance ring . Temiri releases the fathier , creating a stampede that allows Finn and Rose to escape through the streets of Canto Bight . Riding on a fathier , the two flee to the outskirts of the city where they are picked up by DJ and BB - 8 , who have stolen the luxury yacht " Libertine " . While traveling through hyperspace , the three discuss their plan to infiltrate the " Supremacy " and disable the hyperspace tracker . DJ agrees to help in return for receiving Rose ' s gold pendant as upfront payment for his services . Proceeding with their plan , Finn , Rose , DJ , and BB - 8 infiltrate the massive " Supremacy " . They steal First Order officer uniforms from an automated launderette and make their way to a hyperspace tracker . BB - 8 is disguised as a trash compactor . However , the intruders are spotted by the First Order astromech droid BB - 9E . Inside the hyperspace tracker chamber , Finn , Rose , and DJ are apprehended by First Order stormtroopers led by Captain Phasma , who gloatingly welcomes Finn home . Only BB - 8 is able to escape . Escape and death of the Supreme Leader . Vice Admiral Holdo reveals her plan to discreetly evacuate the remaining Resistance members using a fleet of U - 55 orbital loadlifter s . Believing her actions to be cowardly and risky , Poe instigates a mutiny , apprehending Holdo and her command staff . Poe seals himself in the ship ' s command bridge and tries to restart the " Raddus " . However , Holdo snatches a blaster and frees herself . Meanwhile , having recovered , Leia breaches the command bridge and stuns Poe , ending his mutiny and allowing the evacuation to begin . Leia later tells Poe that she approved of Holdo ' s evacuation plan , which is to retreat to an old Rebel Alliance base on nearby Crait . Meanwhile , Rey delivers herself to the " Supremacy " in order to meet Ren , but she is immediately placed in binder cuffs and he takes her to Snoke . In Snoke ' s throne room , Rey tries to turn Ren to the side of the Resistance . Snoke reveals that he was responsible for the mental connection between her and Ren as part of a plan to find and destroy Luke . Snoke commands Ren to execute Rey , but Ren instead kills Snoke with Anakin Skywalker ' s lightsaber . Rey and Ren cooperate to win a furious melee against Snoke ' s guards . In the aftermath , Ren compels Rey to admit what she has known all along : that her parents were insignificant junkers who sold her as a child for drinking money , and that they are dead and buried in the wastes of Jakku . Ren invites Rey to rule the galaxy with him , but Rey refuses and asks him to join the Resistance . Using the Force , they struggle for possession of Anakin ' s lightsaber until it breaks into two pieces , causing a large explosion . While Ren is unconscious , Rey escapes on Snoke ' s escape craft . In the " Supremacy " hangar bay , Finn and Rose are brought out for a public execution in the presence of General Hux , Captain Phasma , and many First Order officers , soldiers , and pilots . Finn and Rose learn that DJ has sold them out for his own freedom . DJ also reveals the Resistance ' s evacuation plan to the First Order . Finn remonstrates with DJ but the criminal is indifferent to their struggle . Believing Finn and Rose to be a waste of blaster bolts , Phasma orders First Order stormtrooper executioner s to behead them with laser ax es . Acting on DJ ' s information , the " Supremacy " bombards the Resistance ' s U - 55 orbital loadlifters , destroying several ships and inflicting heavy losses on the Resistance . However , Holdo sacrifices herself to ram the " Raddus " into the " Supremacy " at lightspeed , cleaving it in two and destroying much of its escort fleet instantly . The resulting explosion sets the " Supremacy " cargo hold aflame and interrupts Finn and Rose ' s execution . Amidst the chaos , Finn and Rose are cornered by Phasma and several stormtroopers . However , BB - 8 commandeers a docked AT - ST walker and saves them . Finn duels Phasma and bests her , after which she falls into a fiery chasm when the floor beneath her gives way . Finn , Rose , and BB - 8 then flee the " Supremacy " , joining the Resistance survivors on Crait . In Snoke ' s chamber , Hux nearly executes the unconscious Ren , but is forced to relent when Ren awakes . Ren claims that Rey killed Snoke and issues orders for the fleet , which causes Hux to explode in fury at the presumptuousness . Ren quickly silences him by means of a Force choke and declares himself the new Supreme Leader , before ordering the First Order to prepare for a ground assault on Crait . Battle of Crait . On Crait , the surviving Resistance fighters regroup at the abandoned rebel base , which was once a mine . Pursued by TIE fighters , Finn , Rose , and BB - 8 crash - land their stolen shuttle inside the base . A brief reunion ensues with Poe hugging BB - 8 . Rose leads the search for weapons and finds several old ski speeders . When the First Order landing forces arrive , Poe , Finn , and Rose lead a charge with old ski speeders to destroy the First Order assault force ' s massive Superlaser siege cannon , but take concentrated fire from the First Order ' s AT - M6 walkers and TIE fighters , suffering heavy losses . Rey and Chewbacca arrive in the " Falcon " and draw the TIE fighters away , while Rose prevents Finn from sacrificing himself to destroy the battering ram cannon , which then blasts a hole in the fortress and leaves Rose injured and unconscious . The Resistance broadcasts a distress signal to their allies in the Outer Rim , but receives no response , and Leia laments that the galaxy has lost hope . However , Luke suddenly arrives to comfort Leia and confronts Ren alone outside the breached door , giving the surviving Resistance fighters time to escape . Ren orders the First Order walkers to unleash a massive volley of turbolaser fire on Luke ' s position , but Luke emerges from the blast crater completely unscathed . He mocks the First Order ' s firepower with a brush of his shoulder . Ren confronts his uncle personally in a lightsaber duel on the salt plain outside the base , but Luke repeatedly evades Ren ' s attacks . Luke apologizes to Ren for failing him , but Ren angrily rejects his apology , declaring the Resistance is dead and the war over , and that with Luke ' s death shall come the ultimate death of the Jedi . Luke counters by saying that both the Jedi and the Rebellion are born anew in Rey and the Resistance , and invites Ren to strike him down . Ren tries , but is surprised to see Luke is still standing . He pokes his blade through Luke ' s torso , and to his horror it passes through him as if he were a ghost , revealing that Luke is still physically on Ahch - To and has been stalling for time via a non - corporeal Force projection of himself . Luke says goodbye to his fallen nephew and his projection fades , leaving Ren outraged and alone on the salt plain . The Rebellion is reborn . The effort to create the projection was too much for Luke , and he collapses from exhaustion . With the last of his strength , he climbs up to the cliff where he trained Rey and stares out towards Ahch - To ' s binary sunset , similar to the one he saw on Tatooine before he became a Jedi . Luke then dies and his body vanishes as he becomes one with the Force . On Crait , Leia and Rey sense Luke ' s death . The First Order storms the base , but are too late to prevent the remaining Resistance fighters from escaping aboard the " Falcon " , much to Ren ' s disappointment . After leaving Crait , Finn opens a drawer on the " Falcon " to get a blanket for the gravely injured Rose , revealing briefly to the audience that Rey stole all of the books from the original Jedi library and Yoda did not destroy them after all . After being formally introduced to Poe , Rey laments Luke ' s death as she looks hopelessly at his broken lightsaber and the group ' s small numbers . Leia , however , notes that Luke is now at peace and that the Rebellion has all it needs to rise again . Later , on Canto Bight , Temiri Blagg , who had helped Finn and Rose escape , and the other stable children regale themselves with a story about Luke ' s adventures . They are interrupted by the overseer Bargwill Tomder who angrily orders the children to get back to work . Outside , Blagg summons his broom with the Force and hopefully gazes up to the stars . Development . Unofficial reports claimed in November 2012 that Lawrence Kasdan — who originally wrote the screenplays for both and — and Simon Kinberg would divide writing responsibilities for " Star Wars " Episodes VIII and , and both would co - produce all three films of the upcoming sequel trilogy . However , in February 2013 , Disney confirmed that Kasdan and Kinberg were working on standalone films , not saga films . On June 20 , 2014 , a spokesperson for director Rian Johnson confirmed that he would write and direct Episode VIII , as well as pen a story treatment for Episode IX , though he later dismissed the latter . Ram Bergman , Johnson ' s frequent collaborator , was also confirmed to be brought onto the project as a producer , working alongside Kathleen Kennedy . As Lucasfilm had not developed a story beyond that of , Johnson was allowed to develop his own story based on access to the script as well as footage screened for him by " The Force Awakens " director J . J . Abrams ( Abrams ' s friend Greg Grunberg claimed that Abrams was so impressed by the script that he regretted not directing it himself ) . In fact , Abrams also wrote the early drafts for Episodes VIII and IX in addition to direct Episode VII , but Johnson opted to rewrite Episode VIII , using none of his original ideas . According to Johnson , " I saw it as the job of this middle chapter to challenge all of those characters — let ' s see what happens if we knock the stool out from under them . " . . . " I started by writing the names of each of the characters , and thinking , ' What ' s the hardest thing they could be faced with ? ' " While writing , Johnson regularly met with the Lucasfilm Story Group and members of the cast to share ideas and drafts of the script . The story was partially derived from one of George Lucas ' s ideas for Episode VII , in which Luke lives in seclusion in a Jedi temple and reluctantly trains a young girl named Kira . John Boyega later told " Vogue " that the script was " darker " than the one for " The Force Awakens " . To prepare for Episode VIII , Johnson and crew screened select classic films such as " " , " " , " " , " " , " " , " " , and " " . Adam Driver , Mark Hamill , Oscar Isaac , and Daisy Ridley also underwent physical training . Production . Preliminary filming took place in September 2015 on , an island off the coast of mainland . The island stands in for the planet Ahch - To , which first appeared at the end of " The Force Awakens " , but is featured prominently in " The Last Jedi " ; Production design was inspired by the real - world elements of Skellig Michael . This sequence was filmed with cameras . Before leaving , the crew donated 10 , 000 to the ferry service that had transported them to - and - from the island . Production officially began in in February 2016 , under the working title of " Space Bear . " It utilized 14 stages at Pinewood Studios and a total of 125 sets , with many of the crew from Episode VII returning . As with the original trilogy , the character of Yoda was an entirely practical effect , with a new puppet created based on original molds for " The Empire Strikes Back " , and Frank Oz returning to operate and voice the character . From March 9 - 16 , production took place in , , followed by a return to Ireland for twelve weeks in . Several members of the production likened the experience of making the film to working on an . Johnson took a lot of the behind - the - scenes photographs himself , and also shot a brief bit of content for Episode IX . Carrie Fisher worked with Johnson on some of the dialogue , in sessions that he described as " stream - of - consciousness ad - lib . " Per a suggestion from Fisher , several of the film ' s characters wear jewelry of some type . Hamill was surprised by the changes in his character , and had to forumulate a personal backstory for the character so as to play the character effectively . In an interview with , Hamill described the security measures on set : " You get your pages in the morning , and they take them from you as you walk so they can shred them before it somehow leaks . You have security lines you have to walk through , both to and from set . And , not to mention , you have to wear these big monk hoods to protect your costume from drones . " By June 2016 , filming was " in the home stretch . " Principal photography wrapped on July 22 , 2016 . Post - production . Johnson began editing on August 15 , 2016 . His first cut ran over three hours , and included full sequences that were cut from the final film . Carrie Fisher passed away on December 27 , 2016 . Though she had completed filming , she had yet to record . This required significant work by the film ' s sound editors . Relatively few were required , mostly dealing with the Canto Bight sequence and refining the Holdo character . John Williams returned to compose the score , which was recorded from December 2016 to June 2017 ; He utilized a 101 - piece orchestra and a 64 - voice choir . On September 21 , 2017 , Johnson revealed that post - production was complete . Release . Disney chairman Bob Iger originally announced the release date for Episode VIII of May 26 , 2017 , forty years and one day after the release of " Star Wars " : Episode IV " A New Hope " , though the release date was later pushed back to December 15 , 2017 . Rian Johnson first publically discussed the film in a panel at Celebration Europe . The film ' s title , " The Last Jedi " , was announced on January 23 , 2017 . The title announcement was accompanied with a release of a logo for the film featuring the " Star Wars " logo in red rather than its traditional logo . This coloring change , previously seen with " Return of the Jedi " and with " Brothers " and " Revenge , " installments of " " focused on Darth Maul , led some to speculate that the film ' s creators may be hinting at dark events within the film . The title ' s announcement also launched a frenzy of online speculation in regard to the identity of the " last Jedi , " with some noting that the term " Jedi " can be used plurally . ( Foreign translations also had the title as plural . ) However , Rian Johnson later said that it refers specifically to Luke Skywalker . Footage of " The Last Jedi " was shared with Disney shareholders in March 2017 , including a look at the beginning of the film , which happens immediately following the ending of " The Force Awakens " . Disney CEO Bob Iger , having seen the film , referred to it as a " perfect chapter " in the saga , stating , " I can promise you it ' s worth the wait . " On April 11 , Hamill and Ridley appeared on " " to promote the Force for Change charity ; One of the three rewards was a trip for two to the premiere of " The Last Jedi " . Cast and crew featured in a " Last Jedi " panel at Celebration Orlando . At the end of the panel , Johnson debuted a teaser poster and teaser trailer . The film was featured in the May 2017 issue of " " ( for which the cast and crew were photographed on - set by ) and both the August and December 2017 issues of " " . Johnson and the cast again appeared at July ' s , during which a behind - the - scenes featurette was released . In the lead - up to release , cast and crew made various media appearances to promote the film , including , " Good Morning America " , , , , , and . Cast members were also spotlighted in contemporary issues of , , , and , and Johnson and the cast participated in Facebook / Twitter Q & As . The theatrical trailer and poster debuted on October 9 , 2017 during , after which tickets went on sale . Johnson advised spoiler - weary fans to avoid the trailer . On October 24 , published an exclusive behind - the - scenes video . A TV spot known as " Awake " debuted during the November 1 broadcast of the . Behind - the - scenes content is being shown before theatrical screenings of other Disney movies . The official " Star Wars " held a contest in which fan art was showcased at the film ' s world premiere , which was held on December 9 , 2017 . Merchandising . The film ' s product line debuted on September 1 , 2017 , known as Force Friday II ; launched its Force Friday campaign early with a video centered around Rey and female fans . " The Force Awakens " , the months leading up to the debut of " The Last Jedi " saw the release of several novels , short stories , comics , reference books , and activity books known collectively as . The media , written and created by several different authors , cover various topics related to " The Last Jedi " as well as other aspects of the " Star Wars " universe . Toy merchandise includes many plush toys based around the porg creatures introduced in the film , as well as various action figures , including action figures of porgs . Lucasfilm arranged licensing tie - ins with Ample Hills , , , , , , , , , , , and . The UK ' s released a series of " The Last Jedi " - themed postal stamps . Disney added " The Last Jedi " - themed content to its " " ride , including the new planet Crait . The video game " Star Wars Battlefront II " features sequel trilogy characters as they appear in " The Last Jedi " . " " introduced " The Last Jedi " characters and material . LEGO released an online minigame , " The Last Jedi " 360 Experience . ILMxLab ' s " " is a virtual reality experience that ties into the film . The film ' s was released in physical form and digital download on December 15 , 2017 , the same date as the film ' s theatrical premiere . Many of the books previously announced on Force Friday were also released on this day ; The rest , including the and a number of other adaptations , will be released in early 2018 . Home video . The film was released on digital platforms on March 13 , 2018 and on physical media on March 27 . Multiple physical editions were released : Bonus features include : Each purchase also grants access to a music - only version of the film . Reception . The film topped polls from both Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes as the most anticipated film of 2017 . It generated the highest level of film discussion on social media for late 2017 , and analysts expected a $ 200 million opening . The film currently holds a 91 % Fresh rating on the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes , with 337 / 357 Fresh reviews and average rating of 8 . 1 / 10 . The site ' s consensus for the film states that " " Star Wars : The Last Jedi " honors the saga ' s rich legacy while adding some surprising twists - - and delivering all the emotion - rich action fans could hope for . " Stephen Whitty of the " Newark Star - Ledger " praised that " Rian Johnson clearly remembers something that Lucas ' most fervent followers sometimes forget : These are movies for the young , or at least the young at heart , " while Peter Howell of the " Toronto Star " praised Johnson ' s ability to " find the humanity within technology , " similar to his well - known film " Looper " . " Star Wars " creator George Lucas called the film " beautifully made . " The user - generated review sections of Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic contained scores that were far more negative , with ratings of 47 % and 4 . 6 / 10 , respectively . Certain reviewers speculated that the low user scores are the result of manipulation , either by coordinated vote brigading from internet groups or from bots . In response to tampering claims , Rotten Tomatoes released a statement that they did not detect any unusual activity aside from a noticeable " uptick in the number of written user reviews " on " The Last Jedi " . Regarding more mixed online user scores for the film , Dave Hollis , President of Disney theatrical distribution , commented , " Rian Johnson , the cast , and the Lucasfilm team have delivered an experience that is totally " Star Wars " yet at the same time fresh , unexpected and new . That makes this a " Star Wars " film like audiences have never seen – it ' s got people talking , puzzling over its mysteries , and it ' s a lot to take in , and we see that as all positive , that should help set the film up for great word - of - mouth and repeat viewing as we enter the lucrative holiday period . " When asked about the backlash , Johnson himself commented " Lucas never made a ' Star Wars ' movie by sitting down and thinking , ' What do the fans want to see ? ' And I knew if I wrote wondering what the fans would want , as tempting as that is , it wouldn ' t work , because people would still be shouting at me , ' F - - - you , you ruined " Star Wars , and I would make a bad movie . And ultimately , that ' s the one thing nobody wants . " As projected , the film took a domestic box office in its opening weekend of well over $ 200 million , a final figure of an estimated $ 220 million , and an overall global box office of approximately $ 450 million . It was predicted to break the billion - dollar barrier within days , as fans flocked to the box office for the Christmas holiday weekend . In 2018 , the film received four nominations ( including Original Score , Visual Effects , Sound Editing , and Sound Mixing ) , and won " Best Movie for Grownups " Award . Continuity . The film shows Rey and Poe meeting for the first time . The two , however , were depicted as meeting in a deleted scene that was made canon in the of " Star Wars " : Episode VII " The Force Awakens " . This error in continuity led to a tweet by Pablo Hidalgo discussing the canonicity of deleted scenes and other canon materials ' depictions of those deleted scenes .