Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Was Released 6 Years Ago Today

Six years ago today, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker arrived in theaters carrying more weight than almost any film in the franchise’s history.

It wasn’t just the final chapter of a trilogy. It was positioned as the conclusion of the entire Skywalker saga — nine films, four decades, and generations of expectations converging into a single release.

Whether you loved it, questioned it, or are still debating it, the film’s place in Star Wars history is undeniable.

The moment it landed

When The Rise of Skywalker premiered, it closed a sequel trilogy that had already sparked intense discussion about tone, legacy, and direction.

The film brought back familiar faces, re-centered the conflict around the Sith, and aimed for a sense of finality that the saga had never attempted before. It was fast, emotional, and unapologetically big — clearly designed to feel like an ending.

For Lucasfilm, it marked the end of an era defined by theatrical saga films driving the franchise forward.

A movie built on legacy

More than any recent Star Wars release, The Rise of Skywalker leaned heavily into legacy.

The film revisited themes of lineage, identity, and choice, tying Rey’s journey directly to the past while attempting to resolve long-running threads tied to the Skywalker name. It also served as a final on-screen chapter for characters that had shaped the franchise since the original trilogy.

That ambition came with pressure — and plenty of debate.

Why it still matters six years later

Six years on, the film’s impact looks different.

The Skywalker saga is no longer the backbone of Star Wars storytelling. Streaming series, standalone films, and new timelines have taken center stage. In that context, The Rise of Skywalker now feels like a clear dividing line — the end of one storytelling model and the beginning of another.

It’s the last time Star Wars attempted to close the book on its core mythos in a single theatrical moment.

The bigger picture

Time has softened some conversations and sharpened others.

For some fans, the film represents closure. For others, it’s a reminder of how difficult it is to conclude a story that means different things to different generations. Either way, its role as the saga’s final chapter gives it lasting relevance.

Six years later, The Rise of Skywalker stands as a snapshot of Star Wars at a crossroads — balancing nostalgia, expectation, and the challenge of moving forward.

And whether future films revisit the Skywalker name or leave it untouched, this remains the moment when the saga officially said goodbye.

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