It’s not just the Super Mario Bros. Movie that performed well at the box office this week. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi made a successful return during its theatrical re-release for the film’s 40th anniversary.
According to ComicBook.com, the finale for the main trilogy managed to earn just under $5 million during the weekend of its re-release. It was also predicted that the film’s box office earnings will continue to increase as the film has a few days left of its limited theatrical run.
It was announced during this year’s Star Wars Celebrations in London that Episode VI in the Skywalker Saga will have a theatrical re-release. The BBC reported that Star Wars illustrator Matt Ferguson released a new poster to celebrate the film’s return to theaters. The illustrator recalled the feeling he had when fans saw his new poster for the first time and how pressured he was due to fans and his own expectations.
“I can’t think of a more exciting time in my career than that weekend because I was there and part of it and they said my name – ‘poster by Matt Ferguson’. There’s lots of pressure because of expectations from fans and my own standards, but also it’s really fun because I’ve loved Star Wars my entire life.
“I’m a fan first. That’s how I got started – doing artwork based on the things I like. It’s almost unreal.”
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi was originally released back on May 25, 1983, and earned over $23 million during its domestic opening. The 2023 re-release is one of many screenings this film had. It first was back in 1985, when it earned around $11 million throughout its limited run. It also had a limited re-release back in 2022 and 2020, to name a few. It also had a special screening in 1997 for its special edition release
The 2023 limited theatrical run is scheduled to conclude on May 4 in the US. The film is also available to stream on Disney Plus.