Star Wars

Star Wars is an American multimedia franchise created by George Lucas, first debuting with the original Star Wars film in May 1977. What began as a fantasy-adventure space opera inspired by mythology, classic westerns, Akira Kurosawa films, and Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey became one of the most successful and culturally significant franchises in history. The franchise has an estimated value of $68 billion. It spans twelve theatrical films, multiple television series, video games, novels, comics, theme parks, and merchandise that has been sold continuously for nearly fifty years. Disney acquired Lucasfilm and the Star Wars franchise from George Lucas in October 2012 for $4.05 billion.

The Universe

Star Wars takes place in a galaxy far, far away, in a universe where an energy field called the Force binds all living things together. Those who are sensitive to it can draw on its power, either toward the light side, associated with peace, knowledge, and selflessness, or the dark side, associated with passion, power, and domination. The Jedi Order has served as the guardians of peace in the galaxy for thousands of years, while the Sith, their ancient enemies, have sought to rule it. The central conflict of the Skywalker Saga, the nine-film core of the franchise, follows three generations of the Skywalker family across this struggle.

The Skywalker Saga: The Original Trilogy

Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)

The film that started everything. Luke Skywalker, a farm boy on the desert planet Tatooine, is drawn into a galactic rebellion against the evil Galactic Empire after discovering a message from Princess Leia hidden in a droid. The film cost $11 million to make and grossed over $775 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing film of all time at that point. John Williams composed the score, which is among the most recognized music in the world. The film’s practical effects, creature design, and world-building were revolutionary and won six Academy Awards.

The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Directed by Irvin Kershner rather than Lucas, The Empire Strikes Back is widely considered the best film in the series. Luke trains with Jedi Master Yoda while Darth Vader pursues his friends across the galaxy. The revelation that Vader is Luke’s father is one of the most significant plot twists in film history. The film ends on a genuine down note, something blockbusters almost never did at the time. Both A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back have been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.

Return of the Jedi (1983)

The conclusion of the original trilogy. Luke returns to rescue Han Solo and faces his father and the Emperor in the film’s climax. Vader’s redemption through his love for his son brings the Skywalker family’s first generation to a close. The Ewoks remain controversial. The throne room sequence is not.

The Skywalker Saga: The Prequel Trilogy

The Phantom Menace (1999), Attack of the Clones (2002), and Revenge of the Sith (2005)

George Lucas returned to direct the prequel trilogy, telling the story of Anakin Skywalker’s fall to the dark side and transformation into Darth Vader. The Phantom Menace received mixed reviews and introduced Jar Jar Binks, one of the most debated characters in blockbuster history. Attack of the Clones followed Anakin’s secret romance with Padme Amidala and the discovery of a clone army. Revenge of the Sith is the darkest of the three, showing the destruction of the Jedi Order and the birth of both Darth Vader and the Galactic Empire. It is widely considered the strongest of the prequel films. All three were commercial successes despite mixed critical reception, and the prequels have been significantly rehabilitated by the generation that grew up with them.

The Skywalker Saga: The Sequel Trilogy

The Force Awakens (2015), The Last Jedi (2017), and The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm led to a new trilogy set thirty years after Return of the Jedi. The Force Awakens, directed by J.J. Abrams, introduced Rey, Finn, Poe Dameron, and the villainous Kylo Ren, the son of Han Solo and Leia. It grossed nearly $2.1 billion worldwide. Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi deliberately subverted expectations and divided the fanbase sharply. The Rise of Skywalker, directed again by Abrams, attempted to reconcile the division and received mixed reviews. The trilogy as a whole is considered uneven, lacking the coherent overarching plan that the earlier trilogies benefited from.

Star Wars Anthology and Standalone Films

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in 2016 told the story of the Rebels who stole the Death Star plans referenced in A New Hope. It is considered one of the best films in the franchise, ending on a note of genuine tragedy. Solo: A Star Wars Story in 2018 told a young Han Solo origin story that performed below expectations at the box office and effectively ended the anthology film program for several years. New films are in development including a Mandalorian and Grogu theatrical film and a Dawn of the Jedi film directed by James Mangold.

Star Wars on Television

The Clone Wars (2008 to 2020)

The animated series set between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith that many fans consider essential viewing. Introduced Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker’s padawan, who became one of the most beloved characters in the franchise. Ran for seven seasons and was revived by Disney Plus to complete its final season after being cancelled by Cartoon Network.

The Mandalorian (2019 to present)

The first live-action Star Wars series and the show that proved the Disney Plus model. Set after Return of the Jedi, following a Mandalorian bounty hunter and a young Force-sensitive child nicknamed Grogu. Pedro Pascal’s performance and the cultural phenomenon of Baby Yoda made The Mandalorian the most talked-about show of its debut year. It has spawned multiple spinoff series.

Other Disney Plus Series

Andor, the prequel series following Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor from Rogue One, received universal critical acclaim and is considered among the best Star Wars content ever produced. Obi-Wan Kenobi starring Ewan McGregor and Andor Hayden Christensen, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, and The Acolyte have varied in quality and reception.

Star Wars in Video Games

Star Wars video games began with the Atari 2600 in 1982 and have been produced continuously since. The most significant gaming era was LucasArts in the 1990s and early 2000s, which produced TIE Fighter, considered the best Star Wars space combat game ever made, the X-Wing series, Jedi Knight, Battlefront, and most significantly Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic in 2003, developed by BioWare, which remains one of the most acclaimed RPGs ever made. After Disney’s acquisition and the EA exclusivity deal that ran from 2013 to 2021, EA produced the Battlefront reboot series, Jedi: Fallen Order, and Jedi: Survivor. Fallen Order and Survivor are particularly well-regarded, featuring Cal Kestis as a Jedi survivor of Order 66. The exclusivity deal ending in 2021 has since opened Star Wars games to multiple publishers and developers.

When Star Wars teamed up with another huge franchise, Lego, it let you relive the movies in all new ways. The Lego Star Wars games lets you play through each trilogy using the characters you want with Lego twists that you never knew you needed.

The Future of Star Wars

The Mandalorian and Grogu theatrical film is in development. James Mangold’s Dawn of the Jedi film is in early development. Multiple Disney Plus series are in various stages of production. A new era of games across different publishers is underway. Star Wars has faced criticism in recent years for an uneven quality of output and a lack of cohesive direction, but individual projects like Andor and Rogue One demonstrate that the creative potential of the universe is not exhausted. The franchise remains one of the most commercially powerful entertainment properties in history.