‘Alvin And The Chipmunks 4’ Will Now Open On December 18; ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Trembles In Fear
I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened. Ah. Wait a second. It’s becoming clearer now. There’s been a release date change. Have you felt it? The dark side… and the light.
Yes. There it is.Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chipwill no longer open on July 23, 2025. Instead, it will open five days earlier onDecember 18. Sorry,Star Wars: The Force Awakens. You thought you had that day all locked down. So much for having a few days to make as much money as possible beforethebig release of 2015 arrived and kneecapped you.
To learn just how this newAlvin and the Chipmunks 4release date means certain doom for the newStar Warsmovie, hit the jump.
The news of this seismic shift in the make-up of the winter movie season comes to us viaThe Hollywood Reporter. The “official” reason for the release date change is that20th Century Foxwants to get their movie into theaters a few days earlier so they can take advantage of the school holidays the following week. But we know the real reason – Fox, fueled by the anger and hate that comes with no longer being the distributor on newStar Warsmovies – has unleashed their secret weapon. Secretly constructed near a distant forest moon,Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chipis specifically designed to destroy entire popular franchises with a single blast.
As you can see, my young readers, yourStar Warssequel has failed.Now witness the firepower of this fully armed and operationalAlvin and the Chipmunkssequel!
Dumb jokes aside, this decision actually makes practical business sense and should result in a boost forThe Road Chipwithout affectingThe Force Awakensin the slightest. These two films exist in such different places and cater to such different audiences that the two of them opening on the same day really doesn’t mean much of anything at all. They are both going to make whatever money they were going to make. Fox relocating their family movie so it’s in theaters for more days when kids will be out of school is just smart thinking.
Additionally, asForbeswriter Scott Mendelson pointed out on Twitter, the toddler-friendlyRoad Chipopening on December 18 is essentially confirmation thatThe Force Awakens will be rated PG-13, making it the second Star Wars film in the saga to nab that rating. That rating won’t scare away too many families, but those that are turned off by the suggestion of additional parental guidance have a singing, dancing rodent movie they can go see instead. It’s perfect counter-programming. As isSisters, the Tina Fey/Amy Poehler comedy that also opens on the 18th and also caters to a completely different set of moviegoers.
By the way, the fact that ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS 4 is opening against STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS all-but confirms that SW:TFA is PG-13.
— Scott Mendelson (@ScottMendelson)July 29, 2025
So there you have it,Star Warsfans. A movie that you have zero interest in seeing will have zero impact on the movie you’re excited to see. After all,it’s not like people are clamoring to buyThe Road Chiptickets two months early.
