Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is the third and final movie of the sequel trilogy made in the Disney era that started with Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Meant to cap off nine movies overall in the Skywalker Saga and tie them all together, it features Rey, Finn and Poe together on an adventure to stop Kylo Ren and the First Order once and for all. Desperate for allies and low on resources, they gain crucial intel that could help them with their mission.
Along the way, we see Rey discover the secrets of her origin, Kylo Ren's destiny come full circle and Poe and Finn become the leaders the Resistance needs them to be. General Leia Organa is seen as well, providing inspiration and wisdom in this most crucial of fights. We also see some returns of characters we haven't seen in a while and the rise of the most malevolent and deadly force the galaxy has ever seen, with the power to kill trillions.
Filled with pew-pew action, high stakes, spectacular special effects, plot twists, unexpected surprises, great humor, heartwarming moments, lightsaber duels, unexpected deaths and the light and dark sides of The Force in a winner-take-all showdown, this movie has it all.
Directed by J.J. Abrams, who also co-wrote and directed "The Force Awakens" and written by J.J. Abrams and Chris Terrio, it opened in theaters on Dec. 20th, 2019 and over the course of its theatrical run, earned over 515 million dollars domestically and over 558 million internationally. In total, it earned over 1.074 billion dollars, making it the sixth highest-grossing movie of 2019. Critics gave it a 52% rating on RottenTomatoes.com, while audiences gave it an 86% score.
This movie drops on DVD, Blu-Ray and 4K Ultra HD on
Tuesday, March 31st. There are five retailer exclusives for this movie as well, so let's find out the details.
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DVD/Blu-Ray Editions:
There are four editions:
1.) The DVD only set (1 Disc total)
2.) The Blu-ray + Digital "Multi-screen Edition" (2 Discs total)
3.) The 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital "Ultimate Collector's Edition" (3 Discs total)
4.) The 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital "Ultimate Collector's Edition" + bonus content disc (4 Discs total) – Target Limited Edition exclusive
A note about the digital code, it will be a code you can redeem on the Movies Anywhere website, which you can then link with your different digital movie accounts on Amazon Video, iTunes, Google Play, FandangoNow, Microsoft Movies & TV and Vudu. When you link your accounts from those digital retailers, the films from your Movies Anywhere library are imported into all of those other digital movie sites. So, no matter which digital movie platform you use, you should be able to view the movie on the device of your choice.
DVD, Blu-Ray & 4K Ultra HD Special Features:
1.) The DVD only set (1 Disc total)
The movie on DVD. No known additional features.
2.) The Blu-ray + Digital Code "Multi-screen Edition" (2 Discs total)
This edition includes over six featurettes, deleted, alternate and extended scenes and much more. Here is a breakdown of what that includes:
• The Skywalker Legacy – The story lives forever in this feature-length documentary that charts the making of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
• Pasaana Pursuit: Creating the Speeder Chase – Dive into the making of the movie's epic landspeeder chase and discover how this spectacular sequence was brought to the screen.
• Aliens in the Desert – See what it took to create the Pasaana desert scenes, from the sheer scale and complexity of the shoot to its colorful details.
• D-O: Key to the Past – Explore the ship that connects Rey to the mystery of her missing parents and get to know the galaxy's newest, irresistible droid.
• Warwick & Son – Warwick Davis, who played Wicket in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, dons the Ewok costume once more; this time joined by his son Harrison.
• Cast of Creatures – The team behind the film's memorable creatures reveal the puppetry, makeup, prosthetics and digital magic that bring them to life!
•
Digital Exclusive:
The Maestro's Finale – Composer John Williams reflects on his body of work for the Star Wars saga and shares insights on scoring Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
A note about this digital exclusive – to get access to this, just follow the instructions to redeem the digital copy code found inside this package with the digital movie retailer of your choice.
3.) The 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital Code "Ultimate Collector's Edition" (3 Discs total)
All the bonus features from the Blu-ray + Digital Code "Multi-Screen Edition", with a 4K Ultra HD version of the movie included.
4.) The 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital "Ultimate Collector's Edition" + bonus content disc (4 Discs total) – Target Limited Edition exclusive
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Best Prices:
I did a price comparison on both the internet and this week's circulars with Amazon.com, Best Buy, BestBuy.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Costco.com (no listings for some reason), DeepDiscount.com, Frys.com, FYE, FYE.com, Kmart.com/Sears.com, Overstock.com, Target, Target.com and Walmart.com. Unless otherwise noted or known by me, the prices are the same in-store and online at their respective websites. I noted shipping in the price rankings because of the competition between stores, but I will only be comparing base prices of the movie. Shipping costs will not factor into the price rankings as a result.
Please note that with these price rankings, these prices are as current as I am aware of. Walmart's in-store prices don't always match its website prices, for example. As a result, these prices are as accurate as I can verify from the internet and flyers from the newspaper, I don't put prices in the rankings that I cannot verify.
I fully expect there to be further price changes on Tuesday when the movie is released to stores. This is especially true with Amazon's prices, which are NOT available online yet. I'll be updating this thread again on Tuesday and double-checking all the prices.
On a side note, this is why Amazon's prices aren't online yet and why they don't do pre-orders for a Disney owned movie:
https://consumerist.com/2014/08/1...-blu-rays/
For example, in the past, Kmart.com/Sears.com will presumably sell all versions of a movie, but there are no listings for it online but only in Kmart's circular. So, I can only rank the price at the store and not the price on the website. I also know from experience that FYE's B&M store prices are the same as those on their website, so I made one listing for both. In other words, these stores reserve the right to change their prices and I might not know about it.
That's where the SD community can help each other out and if new or different prices are verified, I will edit my post accordingly.
When I checked online, I found no listings for this movie on Costco.com, Kmart (no sales circular), Sears (no sales circular) or Walmart (no sales circular).
A note about Walmart's prices, they have proven to be notoriously regional in the past and they rarely have a weekly circular available online. When it is available online,
the circular prices in it are national or mostly national. Hopefully, the prices online will be national, with little price variation.
I'm making a slight adjustment to my price rankings, as I will now only include the top five prices in this thread. Basically, if a retailer's price stinks, it doesn't get to be a part of this compilation list.
I will still do a full price comparison to all the stores I listed above, but only the best prices will be included here. So if you don't see a particular store on the list, it means their price wasn't good enough to be included. It also means that if their price isn't included here, you should go to a retailer whose price WAS included on this list and try to get the other retailer to price match it, if possible.
Here are the conclusions:
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The DVD only set (1 Disc total):
Here are the complete price rankings:
First, BEST Price: Best Buy/BestBuy.com - $19.99 ($3.99 shipping for orders on the website, free shipping on orders over $35 or free contactless curbside pickup at the store)
First, BEST Price: Target store/Target.com - $19.99 (free shipping on orders over $35 or use your REDcard to get free 2-day shipping on the website, or choose from free drive-up or in-store pickup for your order)
2nd: Barnes and Noble/BarnesandNoble.com - $20.99 ($2.98 for shipping or free shipping on orders over $35)
3rd: Walmart/Walmart.com - $28.25 (free 2-day shipping or free No-Contact Pickup on the curb at the store)
*****
In recognizing the threat of COVID-19, please note that all listings for brick & mortar stores in these price rankings include options for contactless curbside or in-store pick-up, where available. *****
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2.) The Blu-ray + Digital Code "Multi-screen Edition" (2 Discs total):
Complete price rankings:
First, BEST Price: Best Buy/BestBuy.com - $22.99 ($3.99 shipping for orders on the website, free shipping on orders over $35 or free contactless curbside pickup at the store)
2nd: Walmart/Walmart.com - $24.96 (free 2-day shipping or free No-Contact Pickup on the curb at the store)
3rd: DeepDiscount.com - $24.99 (plus shipping costs or free shipping on orders over $25)
3rd: Target store/Target.com - $24.99 (free shipping on orders over $35 or use your REDcard to get free 2-day shipping on the website, or choose from free drive-up or in-store pickup for your order)
4th: FYE/FYE.com - $26.99 (purchase it directly at the store or get free shipping on orders over $40)
5th: Barnes and Noble/BarnesandNoble.com - $27.99 ($2.98 for shipping or free shipping on orders over $35)
6th: Shopdisney.com - $29.99 ($6.95 for shipping or free shipping on orders of $75 or more. For FREE shipping, see "Deals & Exclusives" section below to learn more about this option.)
*****
In recognizing the threat of COVID-19, please note that all listings for brick & mortar stores in these price rankings include options for contactless curbside or in-store pick-up, where available. *****
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3.) The 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital Code "Ultimate Collector's Edition" (3 Discs total):
Complete price rankings:
First, BEST Price: Barnes and Noble/BarnesandNoble.com - $27.99 ($2.98 for shipping or free shipping on orders over $35)
2nd: Walmart/Walmart.com - $29.96 (free 2-day shipping or free No-Contact Pickup on the curb at the store)
3rd: Best Buy/BestBuy.com - $29.99 ($3.99 shipping for orders on the website, free shipping on orders over $35 or free contactless curbside pickup at the store)
3rd: DeepDiscount.com - $29.99 (free shipping)
3rd: Target store/Target.com - $29.99 (free shipping on orders over $35 or use your REDcard to get free 2-day shipping on the website, or choose from free drive-up or in-store pickup for your order)
4th: FYE/FYE.com - $32.99 (purchase it directly at the store or get free shipping on orders over $40)
5th: Walmart/Walmart.com - $34.96 (free 2-day shipping or free No-Contact Pickup on the curb at the store) – Walmart Limited Edition Exclusive
6th: Best Buy/BestBuy.com - $34.99 ($3.99 shipping for orders on the website, free shipping on orders over $35 or free contactless curbside pickup) – Best Buy Steelbook Exclusive
6th: Target store/Target.com - $34.99 (free shipping on orders over $35 or use your REDcard to get free 2-day shipping on the website, or choose from free drive-up or in-store pickup for your order) – Target Limited Edition Exclusive
*****
In recognizing the threat of COVID-19, please note that all listings for brick & mortar stores in these price rankings include options for contactless curbside or in-store pick-up, where available. *****
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Don't forget that you can price match any edition of this DVD or Blu-Ray to the store of your choice, if they have a price matching policy. There might also be some store-specific coupons or online coupon codes floating around that could help bring some of these prices down further.
Given the price competition for this movie, there are some great price-matching opportunities, especially due to the aggressive price matching policies stores like Best Buy, Target and Walmart continue to utilize.
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Deals & Exclusives:
There are five retailer exclusives for this release. Which, if any, will you get?
*****
In recognizing the threat of COVID-19, please note that all listings for these retailer exclusives at the brick & mortar stores include options for contactless curbside or in-store pick-up, where available. *****
Best Buy/BestBuy.com:
Best Buy and its website have a limited edition collectible SteelBook exclusive of the 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital Code "Ultimate Collector's Edition" (3 Discs total). It features a collectible steel case and the cover on this edition is different than the cover on the standard, non-exclusive editions.
Priced at $34.99 with $3.99 shipping on its website or free contactless curbside pickup at the store:
OOS
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-steelbookdig-copy4k-ultra-hd-blu-ray-blu-rayonly-best-buy-4k-ultra-hd-blu-ray-blu-ray-2019/6391394.p?skuId=6391394
Best Buy and its website also have an exclusive bundle of all nine movies in the Skywalker Saga. This bundle has episodes one through nine. Each movie is included in this bundle, in 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital Code. There are 27 discs total, 3 discs for each movie: one in 4K, one in Blu-Ray and one bonus disc of content. There is also an exclusive art book and a letter from Mark Hamill, the actor who portrayed Luke Skywalker in six of the nine films.
Priced at $249.99 with free shipping on its website or free contactless curbside pickup at the store:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/star-wars-the-skywalker-saga-digital-copy-4k-ultra-hd-blu-ray-blu-ray-only--best-buy/6393929.p?skuId=6393929
ShopDisney.com:
ShopDisney.com has the Blu-ray + Digital Code "Multi-screen Edition" (2 Discs total) that includes four exclusive lithographs.
Priced at $29.99, with $6.95 for shipping or free shipping on orders of $75 or more:
https://www.shopdisney.com/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-blu-ray-combo-pack-multi-screen-edition-with-free-lithograph-set-offer-pre-order-413220249232.html NLA
Also, if you want free shipping on your entire order, go to the shopdisney.com website and scroll to the bottom of the page on the left-hand side. Click "Sign Up", then enter your email address. The email with the free shipping code typically arrives within 5 minutes.
Thanks to
savvyshopper7903 for this advice on how to get free shipping for your entire order in her post here:
https://slickdeals.net/f/13944293-shopdisney-disney-star-wars-boys-or-girls-pj-sleep-set-7-48-each-boys-or-girls-sherpa-pj-sleep-set-mickey-spider-man-bambi-more-11-98-each-more-free-s-h
Target/Target.com:
Target has limited edition exclusive for the 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital Code "Ultimate Collector's Edition" (4 Discs total). It features a Limited-Edition Filmmaker Gallery Book and exclusive bonus content, which is on the fourth disc.
Priced at $34.99, with free shipping on orders over $35 or use your REDcard to get free 2-day shipping on the website, or choose from free drive-up or in-store pickup for your order:
https://www.target.com/p/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-target-exclusive-4k-uhd/-/A-79368889
Walmart/Walmart.com:
Walmart has the 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital Code "Ultimate Collector's Edition" that has an exclusive gatefold opening case that holds all of the discs inside.
Priced at $34.96:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Star-Wars-Episode-IX-The-Rise-of-Skywalker-Walmart-Exclusive-4K-Ultra-HD-Blu-ray-Digital-Copy/328324899
You can certainly purchase this movie digitally at the online retailer of your choice. However, when you buy the Blu-Ray or the 4K editions of this movie, it comes with a digital code, so you don't have to do so unless that is your preference.
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I included as much pertinent information on this new release that I could find so everyone can make a more educated decision on whether to purchase this movie or not, as well as which edition they prefer. Also, if you were in the store and didn't know which edition to get, you could pull up this thread on your smartphone and use it to figure it out right there on the spot. (Of course, given the current threat of COVID-19, you probably wouldn't be in the store to begin with.)
For those of you who read these threads start to finish, there is plenty of detail for everyone. I've noticed that a lot of the questions people put in these threads could be answered if they read the OP carefully. I would heartily encourage you to do so, as it might answer the question(s) you have before you even have to ask.
And that is the end of this compilation, my first New Release Thread for the year 2020. There are five retailer exclusives for physical media this time around. It should make it easier to decide what edition and which exclusive you might want.
Remember, when making the final movie in a nine-movie saga, make sure to include plenty of Easter eggs referencing previous movies, lots of fan service and give all of the legacy characters from the original trilogy meaningful parts in the movie.
For more information on my previous New Release Threads for blockbuster DVD, Blu-Ray & 4K releases, please click here:
hhttps://slickdeals.net/forums/sdsearch.php?mode=forum&searchuserid=410841&showposts=0&starteronly=1.
RELEASE DAY - INFORMATION & PRICES UPDATED ON MARCH 31 @ 7:28 AM:
1.) Both Best Buy/BestBuy.com & Target/Target.com now have listings for the DVD edition of this movie and their price moved to the top of the rankings, with the best price.
2.) Walmart/Walmart.com's price for the DVD increased to $28.25, making it the worst price available and moved to third place in the price rankings.
3.) As of this writing, Walmart/Walmart.com have the Blu-Ray and the 4K Ultra HD editions of this movie still in pre-order status on the website for some reason. While I fully expect that to change later today, I just wanted to note this.
Happy hunting!