Understanding the Divergence in Reception: Why Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Struggled with Critics Despite High Audience Approval

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (commonly referred to as ROS) has often been a subject of debate among film enthusiasts and critics alike. While the film garnered a high audience rating of 86%, the critical reception was notably lower, with a Rotten Tomatoes (RT) score of just 31%. This discrepancy raises questions about the different standards and preferences of film critics compared to the general audience. Let's delve into the reasons behind this divergence and examine the factors that influenced the critical perception of the film.

The Critics' Perspective: A Severely Flawed Film

ROS has been criticized for its lack of clear narrative arcs and out-of-character moments that contradict established character development. Critics argue that the film heavily relied on plot conveniences to tie together loose ends in an unsatisfying manner. For instance, key plot points and character developments that were pivotal in the previous films were either omitted or significantly altered to fit the new narrative. Additionally, there is a sense of frustration among critics regarding the film's tendency to erase the accomplishments of iconic characters like Anakin and Luke Skywalker in favor of elevating Rey Palpatine, which many deem as an unnecessary and unearned central focus.

Technical and Storytelling Flaws

From a technical and storytelling perspective, ROS is often described as a 'damn shitshow.' The film is criticized for its technical lineage, which can be traced back to the prequel trilogy. The final battle scene, with its emphasis on a doomsday weapon that the heroes ultimately destroy, became too repetitive and lacked originality. Furthermore, the sudden and unexplained return of the Emperor Palpatine, without proper in-universe justification, further detracts from the film's credibility. Critics argue that ROS prioritized fan service over coherent storytelling, leading to a disjointed and unsatisfying narrative experience.

The Studio's Decision to Cater to Fans Over Critics

A key factor in the critical reception of ROS is the studio's decision to cater more to fans than to critics. After the polarizing The Last Jedi, which was loved by the audience but criticized by critics, the studio aimed to bring back familiar elements and satisfied the fanbase's expectations. This approach resulted in the film being more derivative and less innovative than the previous installments. Consequently, critics found ROS to be a mere attempt to fill in gaps from the original trilogy, lacking the depth and complexity that critics typically seek in a film's narrative.

Comparison with the Other Two Sequels

While ROS may have been the best of a bad bunch by comparison to the other two sequel trilogy films, it still falls short of the quality and innovation of the earlier entries. Despite its shortcomings, the film does offer more action, more laughs, and takes more risks, which were appreciated by a substantial portion of the audience. However, from a critical standpoint, these elements are not enough to outweigh the technical and narrative flaws that detract from the overall experience.

Ultimately, the divergence in reception between critic and audience highlights the subjective nature of film criticism. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker stands as a testament to the complex interplay between storytelling expectations, fan culture, and professional critique. While it may not be a beloved classic for some, it remains a point of contention and reflection in the discussion of modern blockbuster filmmaking.