Star Wars: Skeleton Crew is a new series on Disney+ that debuted on December 2, 2024, with two episodes. The show offers a coming-of-age story with a style reminiscent of Amblin, and it features child actors, making it different from other Star Wars series.
However, it didn’t attract many viewers at its premiere. According to Nielsen, it had the lowest viewership for any Star Wars series on Disney+, with viewers logging less than 382 million minutes for both episodes.
This is about 20% lower than the premiere of The Acolyte and was the first time a Star Wars show didn’t make it to Disney+’s Top 10 Originals list. In contrast, other Star Wars series have had much higher viewership; for example, the second season of The Mandalorian watched over 1 billion minutes, and both Obi-Wan Kenobi and The Book of Boba Fett had over 389 million minutes. Shows like Andor and Ahsoka also brought in more viewers than Skeleton Crew.
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Several reasons might explain why Skeleton Crew didn’t perform as well as expected. It stars a mostly unknown cast and features new characters like Jude Law’s Jod Na Nawood and a group of children from the planet At Attin, unlike previous series that had familiar characters or cameos from popular ones.
This unfamiliarity could have turned some viewers away. The show’s launch followed other Star Wars series, including The Acolyte, which did not receive great reviews and didn’t meet expectations. The overall success of recent Star Wars projects on Disney+, except for the first two seasons of The Mandalorian and Andor, may have affected viewers’ interest in Skeleton Crew, leading some to postpone watching it or skip it altogether.
Despite this, critics generally responded more positively to Skeleton Crew than some earlier shows, suggesting there may be a gap between critical praise and actual viewer numbers. The show’s unique focus on younger characters and a coming-of-age story could help it gain more fans in the future.
Yet, its slow start raises concerns about whether it will get a second season. The show’s success might rely on generating buzz and increasing viewership in the weeks and months ahead. Positive reviews could also lead to a rise in popularity, similar to what happened with “Andor.” The performances of the coming episodes, especially the eighth episode airing on January 14, will be key in deciding if Skeleton Crew ultimately succeeds or struggles.
