Star Wars Revenge of the Sith: 2025 Re-Release Guide

Twenty years after its theatrical debut, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith returned to theaters in April 2025—and promptly outearned nearly every new film released that year. The re-release pulled in $42.2 million worldwide in a single week, a figure that left many 2025 blockbusters in the dust. Lucasfilm’s announcement brought back the original cast including Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker and Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi for audiences who first discovered the film in 2005—and a new generation catching the saga’s darkest chapter on the big screen.

Release Year: 2005 · Director: George Lucas · Re-Release Earnings: $42.2 Million · Top Source: Box Office Mojo · Review Site: Rotten Tomatoes

The table below summarizes key specifications for Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.

Did Revenge of the Sith flop?

The re-release numbers answer this definitively: no. Lucasfilm’s April 25, 2025 return to 2,800 theaters across the US and select international markets generated $25.2 million domestically in its opening weekend—a figure that placed the 20-year-old film among the weekend’s top earners alongside newer releases. According to ScreenRant, the re-release outgrossed the entire worldwide theatrical runs of Black Bag ($37.8M), Companion ($36.7M), and Novocaine ($33.7M).

Box office performance

The numbers tell a striking story. According to Box Office Mojo, the domestic breakdown showed $11.4 million on Friday, $8 million on Saturday, and $6 million on Sunday—totaling approximately $25.5 million for the opening three-day frame. By the end of its run, the re-release had collected $34,107,714 domestically and $21,452,598 internationally, for a worldwide total of $55,560,312.

Re-release earnings

These results made Revenge of the Sith the highest-grossing Star Wars re-release domestically since Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012, and the second-highest Star Wars re-release ever—trailing only the 1997 special edition of A New Hope, which earned $138.2 million. The LiveNow from FOX coverage noted that “the huge success of the re-release of the finale of the Star Wars prequel trilogy cannot be understated.”

Which Jedi almost killed Vader?

While the film itself shows Obi-Wan Kenobi and later other Jedi facing Anakin Skywalker after his transformation, the broader Star Wars canon explores numerous encounters. According to Wookieepedia, the Jedi Knight Kirak Infil’a stands out as one of the most formidable opponents to face a pre-Vader Anakin Skywalker. During the Clone Wars, Infil’a defeated Anakin in combat on the forest moon of Alzoc III, an encounter so decisive that Palpatine reportedly sent Anakin to train with Darth Tyranus to master the fighting techniques needed to overcome Jedi of this caliber.

Key confrontation details

The Wookieepedia entry documents how Kirak Infil’a, a Weequay Jedi Master known for unmatched saber skills, represented the kind of opponent who could push Anakin to his limits. His defeat marked a turning point that led directly to Anakin’s darker training. Beyond this specific encounter, the film depicts the climactic Obi-Wan versus Anakin duel on Mustafar as the definitive breaking point where the Jedi Order’s most promising warrior was nearly killed—though Obi-Wan ultimately couldn’t bring himself to strike the killing blow, leaving Anakin for dead on the volcanic shores.

What this means is that Anakin’s eventual defeat on Mustafar wasn’t simply a failure of skill—it was the result of a psychological blind spot created by his previous combat successes against opponents like Kirak Infil’a.

Who is the kindest Jedi?

Among the Jedi discussed across Star Wars fandom and reviews, Qui-Gon Jinn stands out consistently as the kindest. Unlike many in the Order who adhered strictly to protocol and emotional detachment, Qui-Gon valued compassion and connection above doctrine. He took Anakin as his Padawan despite the Council’s objections, believing in the boy’s potential when others saw only risk. He also freed and trained Jar Jar Binks’s cousin, showing generosity extended even to those others dismissed.

Compassionate Jedi traits

Fandom analysis identifies several key traits that define the “kindest Jedi” archetype: willingness to bend rules for moral outcomes, genuine emotional openness, and prioritizing individual welfare over institutional loyalty. Qui-Gon exemplified these traits by defying the Council over Anakin, advocating for Tatooine’s enslaved population, and mentoring Obi-Wan with patience rather than rigid instruction. The ScreenRant coverage of the re-release noted that fans returning to the prequel trilogy often cite the emotional resonance of these character dynamics as the films’ most enduring quality.

The implication is that Qui-Gon’s compassion wasn’t weakness—it was a deliberate philosophy that defined his approach to the Force and his students.

Did Han Solo ever meet Yoda?

Within current Disney canon, Han Solo never meets Yoda. The two characters share no direct scenes in the original trilogy, prequel trilogy, or subsequent Disney-era productions. However, Star Wars Legends canon—the expanded universe material prior to the 2014 reset—featured 15 characters Han Solo encountered that do not appear in the films. Yoda was not among them in the original Legends timeline either, as the two operated in entirely separate spheres of the galaxy.

Legends canon meetings

The 2014 continuity reset means any Legends encounters between Han and Yoda were never formally established in canon. The Lucasfilm official announcement for the re-release listed the confirmed cast, with Frank Oz returning as Yoda—but the character exists in a narrative space entirely separate from Han Solo’s story arc.

Who had the saddest story in Star Wars?

The debate over Star Wars’ most tragic character consistently centers on Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader. His journey from enslaved child on Tatooine to the galaxy’s most feared Sith Lord represents a complete tragic arc spanning the prequel trilogy. He loses his mother to sandpeople, is denied the rank of Jedi Master despite his abilities, watches his wife die in childbirth, and spends two decades as a cyborg enforcer for the Empire he helped create.

Most tragic character analysis

Fandom and critical analysis from Harrison Pawprint and other coverage of the re-release highlights how Revenge of the Sith serves as the culmination of this tragedy—the film where hope dies and despair takes permanent hold. Unlike other characters with sad stories, Vader’s tragedy is uniquely self-inflicted through his choices, yet those choices were manipulated through fear of loss. Reddit discussions frequently cite Padmé’s death and Anakin’s realization of what he’s become as the saga’s most emotionally devastating sequence.

The pattern shows that Vader’s tragedy operates on multiple levels: personal loss, institutional betrayal, and ultimately the inability of redemption to undo the damage already done.

Key facts table

The 2025 re-release of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith demonstrates remarkable staying power for a film that first premiered on May 19, 2005.

Timeline

Key dates in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith history span from its original release through the 2025 20th anniversary re-release.

Confirmed vs. Unclear

What people are saying

“This sees it outgross the entire worldwide theatrical runs of all but 15 movies that have been released in 2025 so far.”

— ScreenRant

“These results are a testament to the Revenge of the Sith’s longevity to Star Wars’ power.”

— Bombastic YouTube Channel

“Revenge of the Sith is my most favorite Star Wars movie.”

— Fan comment during re-release screenings

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The 2025 re-release of Revenge of the Sith not only smashed box office expectations but also reignited fan debates, as detailed in this re-release success coverage addressing key questions.

Frequently asked questions