Yea and using Domestic gave me the same anticipation.
$936M and #1 showed the power it (Star Wars) had behind it.
I expected 9 to break $1B Domestic, as surely the climax ending to the entire saga would have amazing anticipation.
Then 8 kinda sank things IMO, and did $620.
Not expecting a lot from 9 now, but holding out a new hope.
Star Wars movies have typically gone down for the second movie and only slightly up for the third (Domestic Only for OT)
A New Hope
Domestic: $460,998,507
Worldwide: $775,512,064
The Empire Strikes Back
Domestic: $290,271,960 - Down 37%
Worldwide: $547,879,454 - Down 29%
Return of the Jedi
Domestic: $309,306,177 - Up 7%, Down 33% from Ep IV
Worldwide: $475,347,111 - Down 13%, Down 39% from Ep IV
The Phantom Menace
Domestic: $474,544,677
Worldwide: $1,027,082,707
Attack of the Clones
Domestic: $310,676,740 - Down 35%
Worldwide: $649,436,358 - Down 37%
Revenge of the Sith
Domestic: $380,270,577 - Up 22%, Down 20% from Ep I
Worldwide: $850,035,635 - Up 31%, Down 17% from Ep I
If that pattern holds, Rise of Skywalker should do well, maybe slightly better than The Last Jedi but nowhere near The Force Awakens.
The Force Awakens:
Domestic: $936,662,225
Worldwide: $2,068,223,624
The Last Jedi:
Domestic: $620,181,382 - Down 34%
Worldwide: $1,332,539,889 - Down 36%
Things look in line so far. It will be interesting to see what unfolds. Numbers are form Box Office Mojo - feel free to reference this post.