Summary

Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker is the ninth and final film in the Skywalker saga, released in December 2019. Directed by J.J. Abrams, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Chris Terrio, this movie closes the three-generation Skywalker narrative with epic action, emotional moments, and an attempt to provide satisfying closure to the multiple subplots established in the previous movies.

The story follows Rey as she and her allies—Finn, Poe, Chewbacca, C-3PO, and others—attempt to stop the First Order and discover the truth about Rey's ancestry. The revelation that Rey is the granddaughter of Emperor Palpatine shocked the entire galaxy and presented the most formidable threat in the saga: the return of the most powerful Sith Lord of all time. Palpatine, who had been thought dead, has been manipulating events from the shadows for decades, building a massive army of star destroyers on the hidden planet of Exegol.

The central theme of the movie explores how we define our legacy: are we defined by our blood or by our choices? Rey must decide whether to accept her destiny as Emperor, following the path of her Sith ancestors, or reject the dark side and forge her own path as a Jedi. This decision represents the emotional climax of the entire saga, summarizing the fundamental themes of redemption, hope, and the capacity for change that have defined Star Wars from its beginning.

The final battle on Exegol is an unprecedented spectacle, commemorating over four decades of Star Wars history by bringing together characters and moments from all the movies in the saga. The final sacrifice of Ben Solo/Kylo Ren, who redeems himself by giving his life to save Rey after rejecting the dark side, provides the complete narrative circle that began with Anakin Skywalker over 40 years ago.

Fun Facts

• With a budget of $245-275 million, the movie grossed $1,077 million.
• It was nominated for 3 Oscar awards.
• Carrie Fisher appears using archive footage from previous movies, as she passed away before being able to film new scenes.
• The movie attempted to close multiple narrative arcs from all three trilogies.

The Rise of Skywalker represents the end of an era in the Star Wars saga, providing closure to the story that began in 1977.