According to third-party analytics,Star Wars: Skeleton Crewhas broken a fantastic milestone - becoming the number one TV show on Disney+ worldwide. 2024 was a rough year forStar Wars, withThe Acolyte- intended to serve as a spectacular relaunch for the franchise - instead leaving the fandom divided.Star Wars: Skeleton Crewfailed to hit the streaming top 10in the U.S., leading to some concern the show won’t get the renewal it deserves.
The latest third-party analytics fromFlix Patrolreveal the show is improving in terms of performance, though.Skeleton Crewis ranked the number 1 Disney+ TV show or movie worldwide for January 2- and the viewership trend is exciting, because it ranks higher than movies likeDeadpool & Wolverine.Even more pleasing, though, is the viewership trend over the last week - as seen on Flix Patrol’s metrics.
It’s worth noting thatSkeleton Crewhad massive competition from other streamers over this period; Flix Patrol indicates the show ranked #15. Here are the top fifteen on all streamers.
1,032
968
930
872
792
744
543
512
490
448
426
378
359
351
349
Disney+
What Does Skeleton Crew’s Viewership Mean?
The day after episode 6’s release,Skeleton Crew’s viewership was higher than - for example -Deadpool & Wolverineon Disney+. Disney gambled by releasingSkeleton Crewover the holiday period, with an episode even dropping on Christmas Eve, but it looks as though that decision may have paid off.The real test will be next week, because it will indicate whether any holiday viewers stuck around.Meanwhile, it will be fascinating to see how the show performs at the weekend.
Skeleton Crew Episode 6 Review: Star Wars Finally Fixes The Weakest Part Of George Lucas' Sprawling Franchise
Skeleton Crew episode 6 may be short, but it is filled with sweet character interactions, a strong action set piece, and a great home-run setup.
Flix Patrol’s data subtly makes another point that’s often not stressed in the online discussion about the show’s performance. Most third-party analytics only indicate performance in the United States, but streaming platforms are global, meaning this isn’t an accurate representation. Disney will be looking at worldwide performance when reaching decisions aboutSkeleton Crewseason 2.
Is Skeleton Crew Season 2 Really Likely?
Ultimately, decisions will be made in terms of profitability.Skeleton Crewcommanded a significant budget, estimated to have cost about $136 million. That’s commonly being compared to the likes ofThe Mandalorianseason 1, which had a budget of $120 million back in 2018. But those calculations are typically failing to factor in inflation, which changes costs of the variousStar WarsDisney+ TV shows significantly.
Adjusted for inflation
$90 million
$104 million
$100 million
$108 million
$105 million
$122 million
The Mandalorian season 3
$120 million
$129 million
$136 million
$140 million
The Mandalorian season 2
$146 million
The Mandalorian season 1
$151 million
$231 million
Andor season 2
$290 million
Andor season 1
$250 million
$291 million
Notice that seasons ofThe Mandalorianare getting progressively cheaper, likely due to the reusing of assets.Star Wars: Skeleton Crewseason 2 would likely follow the same trend. All this means a second season shouldn’t be ruled out; viewership is heading in the right direction, the show’s reputation is solid, and the comparative costs aren’t quite so high as many have reported. Only time will tell.
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
Cast
Skeleton Crew follows four ordinary children who become lost in the expansive Star Wars galaxy. As they navigate unfamiliar worlds and the challenges they present, the group endeavors to find their way back to their home planet, undertaking a journey across the iconic Star Wars universe.
