Skeleton Crew is Star Wars’ Greatest Failure, Record Low Ratings Could Mean Star Wars is a Dead Brand

The recently premiered live-action Star Wars series, titled Skeleton Crew, on Disney+, has unfortunately set a disappointing record by not appearing on any significant streaming ratings tracker. This places the show at the lowest point of the Star Wars franchise’s existing underperforming content, earning it the unwanted distinction as the poorest-rated Star Wars production so far.

Instead of generating excitement or causing controversy, the show featuring Jude Law that aims at a younger demographic with a fusion of Stranger Things-like atmosphere and Star Wars background, has faced widespread indifference instead.

In simple terms, Nielsen has unveiled their list of the most streamed content for the week that coincided with the two-episode debut of Skeleton Crew. The viewership figures for Star Wars are in line with what other sources such as Luminate have been reporting.

Skeleton Crew was a non entity. It failed to chart in any way.

To understand how well Skeleton Crew is performing, it’s helpful to compare its viewership with other shows on Disney+ and those listed in Nielsen’s streaming originals chart. The show at the bottom of Nielsen’s current list is The Great British Baking Show, which had 382 million minutes watched across all episodes. Since Skeleton Crew didn’t even make this list, its total viewership was less than that amount, meaning each of its two episodes averaged under 191 million minutes—a concerning figure for a Star Wars property.

As a movie enthusiast, I was thoroughly intrigued by the initial release of “The Acolyte,” which garnered an impressive 488 million minutes viewed across its first two episodes. This equates to a staggering average of 244 million minutes per episode. Interestingly, even “Andor,” with its premiere consisting of three episodes, managed to amass 624 million minutes, resulting in a mean of 208 million minutes per episode.

It’s worth noting that both these shows outshone “Skeleton Crew” significantly, despite the former two receiving mixed responses from fans and “Andor” being categorized as a more leisurely-paced, specialized addition to the Star Wars franchise.

Both of those shows are also considered major failures.

If The Acolyte and Andor are failures, what then does that make Skeleton Crew?

Under Disney’s management, Star Wars has hit an all-time low with the release of Skeleton Crew. Previous movies received mixed reactions or modest viewership, but this new film appears to have been met with apathy. When a series known for captivating audiences and shaping pop culture struggles to outshine a cooking show, it raises significant questions about its future.

Enhancing the intrigue, Samba TV, a service known for providing insights on streaming viewership, has been tight-lipped about the show’s ratings. This trend mirrors how underperforming series on Disney+ tend to be overlooked, sparking speculation about how the platform gauges and promotes its content. It’s also worth mentioning that Disney appears to have a stake in Samba TV…

The poor showing of “Skeleton Crew” goes beyond just a single series flop; it symbolizes a deeper issue in the Star Wars universe as a whole. Under Kathleen Kennedy’s leadership at Lucasfilm, a brand once known for bridging generations with its enchanting appeal seems to have lost its spellbinding charm.

Star Wars, once an unstoppable pop culture sensation filling cinemas and swamping retail stores with merchandise, now finds it challenging to ignite a fraction of its past fervor. With no new movie release since 2019, the franchise’s toy manufacturer, Hasbro (holding the license), faces impending financial crisis.

The issues that plague modern Star Wars are the same that plague modern Disney as a whole:

As a passionate cinephile, I find myself disappointed by the current trend in movie-making. Storylines often feel stale and repetitive, with creators focusing excessively on self-insertions rather than developing engaging narratives. Regrettably, it seems they’ve lost sight of the original source material, choosing instead to prioritize divisive identity politics that drive both their storytelling and marketing strategies for new projects.

While the larger Disney corporation occasionally ventures beyond identity politics and has achieved success with movies like “Inside Out 2,” “Moana 2,” and “Deadpool & Wolverine” from Marvel, Star Wars under Kennedy’s leadership appears to be deeply entrenched in political messaging and unwilling to deviate, even when it might save the franchise.

Skeleton Crew explores complex issues related to identity politics, unconventional family dynamics including same-sex parents, antagonistic white males, and strong female characters excelling in various areas.

However, Kennedy and her creative team, who have a picture of Luke Skywalker from Star Wars with a red cross drawn over it at Lucasfilm, seem either unaware of their mistakes or resistant to any form of adjustment or improvement.

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As a devoted cinephile, I’ve found myself caught up in the storm of fan reactions over the creative decisions made on shows such as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka, and The Acolyte. The passion these choices have stirred among fans is palpable, leading to a wave of heated backlash.

However, unlike Skeleton Crew, the response to this piece is remarkably subdued. There’s no longer any controversy or outcry. Instead, it’s just… quiet.

Instead of being passionate, fans now seem apathetic or indifferent. The intense discussions about films like “The Last Jedi” and “The Rise of Skywalker” have been replaced with a casual shrug. Apathy might be the biggest danger facing any entertainment brand at present.

In other words, “Love’s counterpart isn’t hatred; it’s apathy.” For the Star Wars franchise, this could indicate a more profound problem than just a series of disappointing films.

The persistent drop in ratings for the “Skeleton Crew” suggests an urgent concern: Could it be that Kathleen Kennedy has irreversibly damaged one of the world’s most enduring entertainment properties – Star Wars? Once a symbol of blockbuster storytelling and unwavering fan devotion, Star Wars now appears to struggle in captivating audiences.

Prominent failures such as “The Acolyte” indicate a series that seems to have strayed from its path and might even be becoming less significant. Meanwhile, the low ratings for “Skeleton Crew” suggest deep-seated decay within Lucasfilm.

As a devoted Star Wars fan, I can’t help but feel a tad disappointed with the direction the saga has taken under Kennedy’s leadership. It seems like the magic of the original trilogy, which resonated deeply with us all, is being overshadowed by contentious storylines and creative choices that leave fans divided. The sequel trilogy, for instance, has been a source of much debate, while some Disney+ series have fallen short in terms of quality, consistency, and the spark that made Star Wars so special.

So that begs the question:

Is Star Wars a Dead Brand?

In my viewpoint, it’s still very much alive. Some might say it faded away, and I can anticipate the customary “It breathed its last when Disney acquired it” responses. However, I beg to differ. The fervor displayed by fans in films like “The Last Jedi” and even more recently in “The Acolyte,” proves that there’s still a strong connection. We don’t invest our energy and emotions into something we no longer care about. A brand is truly dead when it’s no longer relevant, when it disappears from the cultural conversation and is ultimately forgotten. The low ratings of Skeleton Crew suggest a pop culture sphere where the enthusiasm has waned.

The significant flop of “Skeleton Crew” might be the final blow for Star Wars, indicating that this once iconic universe may have lost its cultural significance. With little excitement or impact in the public eye, it’s evident that the galaxy far, far away may no longer hold the same resonance it once did. It seems as though the Star Wars brand, at least temporarily, has become less relevant or possibly diminished to a shadow of its former impact.

Despite ongoing speculation about Kathleen Kennedy’s tenure at Lucasfilm, she remains steadfast in her role. There’s been much chatter about Kennedy’s employment contract, with many questioning whether Disney has the power to terminate her. In any profession, a level of performance like Kathleen Kennedy’s would typically lead to dismissal; however, she continues to hold her position.

No one… except apparently Kathleen Kennedy.

Despite ongoing efforts, Disney grapples with the question of whether Star Wars can rekindle its connection with its former dedicated fanbase. Frankly, I’m skeptical that it will manage to do so. The passion that once fueled the series seems to have waned, and without an enthusiastic fanbase, Star Wars could gradually slip into obscurity in the realm of pop culture. Once a shining star in Hollywood storytelling, this is a rather gloomy prospect for what was once revered as a cultural phenomenon.

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2025-01-09 18:59