9 Spoiler-Free Things Parents (and Everyone Else) Should Know About ‘Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker’

Note: There are no spoilers in this article beyond what has already been shown or referenced in trailers, ads, and merchandise. (There are spoilers for previous Star Wars films, but not this one.)

1. Is it better than The Last Jedi?

Yes, though of course how much better you’ll think it is depends a lot on your opinion of that notoriously divisive film. I’m one of the seemingly-few people who neither love nor hate The Last Jedi ( TLJ), and my overall thoughts are: The Rise of Skywalker ( TROS) has a much more interesting plot, a lot more fun, and much better cinematography. They are very different movies, really, in many ways: chiefly, that much of TROS’s story keeps Rey, Finn, and Poe together (considering that Rey and Poe didn’t even meet until the end of TLJ), and there’s no completely unnecessary, lengthy subplot like Finn and Rose’s Canto Bight trip. What I’m trying to say is, whether you like the new movie may not have a lot to do with whether you liked the last one, so don’t go in prejudiced one way or the other.

2. Will fans be happy?

I’ve been a fan since there was just one movie, and I liked TROS; I can’t say I loved it, but it was…