Starfighter Officially Broke a Star Wars Franchise Record Already
Star Wars: Starfighter, releasing May 27, 2026, has already set a franchise record before its theatrical debut. According to Forbes, the upcoming film’s production budget reached $226.5 million by the time filming concluded, marking a significant financial commitment from Disney and Lucasfilm.
The budget is notably substantial when compared to previous Star Wars productions. At an equivalent stage of production, The Force Awakens (2015) had spent less than Starfighter. While The Force Awakens was later revealed in 2023 to be the most expensive movie ever made, that record was subsequently surpassed by Colin Trevorrow’s Jurassic World Dominion in 2022.
Star Wars productions have traditionally commanded large budgets, with even television series like Ahsoka season 2 requiring considerable investment. However, Starfighter appears to represent an elevated commitment of resources for the franchise. The article raises questions about whether the film could ultimately become the most expensive film ever made, depending on additional post-production and marketing spending through its May 2026 release.