Padmé Amidala actress Natalie Portman recently spoke aboutStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith’s20th anniversary and corresponding theatrical re-release, revealing how she feels aboutStar Warsand its fanbase. Over the years,Revenge of the Sithhas grown to be seen as one ofStar Wars’best movies, and that has been made clear by the turnout for the movie’s return to theaters 20 years later. So far,Revenge of the Sith’sre-release box office numbersare staggering—more than $25 million grossed domestically by the first weekend.
Speaking exclusively withScreenRant’sAsh Crossan, Natalie Portman and John Krasinski discussed their new movie,Fountain of Youth. During the conversation,Portman shared her appreciation forRevenge of the Sithand the continued love audiences have for it:
Ash Crossan: “Revenge of The Sith re-releasing made $25 million dollars over the weekend.”
John Krasinski: “That is so cool!”
Ash Crossan: “It’s so cool! I’m curious, what are your thoughts on that film two decades later, resonating so hard with people?”
Natalie Portman: “It’ssocool when you get to do something and still have people be so passionate about it after decades. It’s such a gift. I’m so lucky. So, that’s very cool.”
Although Natalie Portman hasn’t been among the prequel trilogy actors who have returned toStar Warsmovies and TV showsof late, it’s wonderful to know she still cares about and is appreciative ofStar Warsand its fans.
Revenge Of The Sith’s Re-Release Has Been A Massive Success For Star Wars
This Is A Win For Both The Movie And The Franchise
Revenge of the Sithdidn’t just earn an impressive amount at the box office; it also outperformed several other new releases in its first weekend.This success is a truly critical win forStar Wars, not only forRevenge of the Sithitself but also for the larger franchise. In terms ofRevenge of the Sith’shistory, this positive response reflects a major shift in audience perceptions of the movie over the last two decades.
The prequel trilogy faced considerable backlash and criticism when it was first released, but, over time, it has become much more popular. The fanfare around Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen’s recent returns toStar Warshas been proof enough of that.ForStar Warsmore broadly, this box office success proves that the franchise is one that can still draw in big numbers. Given what we know aboutStar Wars’future, this is particularly important now.
Our Take On Star Wars' Box Office Future
There’s a host ofupcomingStar Warsmovies, and although onlyThe Mandalorian and GroguandStar Wars: Starfightercurrently have release dates,Star Wars Celebration 2025’s revealssuggest many more are coming. While that’s thrilling, it’s also daunting. WhenThe Mandalorian and Groguis released in May 2026, it will have been seven years since a newStar Warsmovie was released in theaters. Given that amount of time and the reception of that movie (Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker), many had concerns about the future of these movies.
Based onRevenge of the Sith’sre-release, there’s still plenty of interest inStar Warsmovies, including theatrical releases. This gives me hope that, comeThe Mandalorian and Grogu,Starfighter, and myriad other newStar Warsmovies, the franchise will draw in big box office numbers and viewers who are excited to seeStar Warsback on the big screen. Padmé actress Natalie Portman was entirely right that it’s incredible to see the love and passion audiences continue to have forStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith—and it gives me so much hope forStar Wars’future.
