The movie that follows Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) is Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019), the concluding chapter of the sequel trilogy. Directed by J.J. Abrams, it brings back the main cast while introducing new allies and adversaries as Rey, Finn, Poe, and others confront the restored Final Order and the lingering legacy of the Skywalker saga.
The Sequel Trilogy Arc
The Sky sequel trilogy was designed as a three-film continuation of the original saga, building toward a single conclusion. Understanding its structure helps clarify how The Last Jedi sets up the finale and what narrative threads carry forward.
Core Narrative Flow
The trilogy tracks the emergence of a new threat after the fall of the Empire, focusing on Rey’s search for identity, Finn’s moral reckoning, and the evolving conflict with the First Order. Each film advances a unified storyline while exploring distinct turning points for the characters and the galaxy.
The Final Film’s Role
The Rise of Skywalker resolves the trilogy’s central questions, answers lingering mysteries from The Last Jedi, and delivers a generational farewell. It balances closure with callbacks to earlier saga themes, aiming to complete the sequel journey begun in The Force Awakens.
The Next Main Feature After The Last Jedi
The Rise of Skywalker is the sole theatrical follow-up to The Last Jedi within the sequel framework. Earlier concepts, spin-offs, and standalone projects exist in development limbo or were rerouted into other series, making this finale the definitive continuation of the onscreen timeline established by The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.
Key Details At A Glance
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Film Title | Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker | Official Announcement |
| Release Date | December 20, 2019 (USA) | Studio Release Schedule |
| Director | J.J. Abrams | Production Credits |
| Episode Number | Episode IX | Lucasfilm/Skywalker Ranch |
| Role In Sequence | Conclusion of the sequel trilogy | Narrative Planning |
Title And Release Context
The Rise of Skywalker was announced shortly after The Last Jedi’s premiere, with production beginning in 2018 and a December 2019 global release. The title underscores its function as the culminating chapter, resolving conflicts introduced in both The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.
Development Timeline
From script drafts to casting confirmations, the film’s journey reflects an effort to reconcile fan expectations with narrative coherence. Early plans evolved through multiple writing phases, reshaping arcs and character beats to align the trilogy’s conclusion with longstanding saga mythology.
How The Rise Of Skywalker Connects
The movie directly references events and decisions from The Last Jedi, including Resistance survival, legacy themes, and the fate of key characters. It advances a compact, high-stakes plot that revisits established locations, introduces new worlds, and brings back familiar faces while aiming to provide a definitive end to the central conflict.
Continuity Considerations
Although some storytelling choices sparked debate, the film maintains continuity with prior sequel beats and earlier saga material. It leverages callbacks, visual motifs, and thematic echoes to reinforce the idea of a closing generational cycle rather than a hard reboot or standalone divergence.
Critical And Fan Reception
Reception to The Rise of Skywalker varied, with some appreciating its ambition and closure, while others critiqued pacing and certain plot turns. Comparisons to The Last Jedi often highlight a shift from experimental tone toward a more traditional, crowd-pleasing finale designed to satisfy a broad audience.
Box Office Snapshot
| Metric | Estimate/Range | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Global Gross | Approx. $1.07 billion | Box Office Mojo |
| The Last Jedi Comparison | Higher opening, similar legs | Industry Tracking |
| Critical Reception | Mixed to average reviews | Aggregator Scores |
Beyond The Sequel Framework
While spin-offs and standalone stories continue in other formats, the next primary episodic film after The Rise of Skywalker is not an immediate narrative follow-up. Future projects may explore new eras, time periods, or perspectives, but none have advanced to the point of replacing the sequel conclusion as the canonical next chapter in the onscreen saga.
What To Watch For
- Legacy content in animated series and publishing that expand the timeline without direct film continuation.
- Potential new saga launches that draw from deeper myth arcs rather than proceeding linearly.
- Recontextualized focus on underdeveloped characters or worlds hinted at in prior sequel entries.
Planning Your Viewing Path
For viewers tracking the sequel trajectory, the recommended order is The Force Awakens → The Last Jedi → The Rise of Skywalker. This sequence preserves intended narrative beats, character developments, and thematic throughlines the way the writers and directors structured them for audiences experiencing the conclusion as originally intended.
Viewing Notes
Consider thematic throughlines, such as the balance between legacy and renewal, when moving between films. Pay attention to how each installment raises questions that are answered or reframed in the next, culminating in the finale’s resolution of the Skywalker saga’s central arc.
Wrap-Up
What movie is after The Last Jedi? Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker serves as the direct and final sequel, bringing the story begun in The Force Awakens and developed in The Last Jedi to its intended close. Understanding this relationship helps audiences appreciate the trilogy as a cohesive concluding chapter rather than a series of disconnected entries.