39 years ago today, audiences were first taken to the galaxy far, far away that would deeply embed itself in popular culture and ignite the imaginations of sci-fi fans for generations to come. Star Wars opened in theaters on May 25, 1977, the Wednesday before Memorial Day that year. (Yep, next year we’ll be celebrating the 40th anniversary of Star Wars.) The film that would launch one of the biggest cultural phenomenons of all time started small, opening in fewer than 40 theaters. But when the movie started to break records in its small release, 20th Century Fox accelerated its release plans. Soon audiences across the world were captivated by the Millennium Falcon and binary sunsets and lightsaber duels. Six years to the day after the release of the first film, Return of the Jedi opened in theaters. The Empire Strikes Back had hit theaters in May 1980, when Star Wars was a summer and not a Christmas event.
- 5/25/2016
- by Emily Rome
- Hitfix
Similar News
Rebel Moon—Part Two: The Scargiver review: Zack Snyder's improved follow up is a messy but daring star war
- 4/19/2024
- by Jarrod Jones
- avclub.com
Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 3 Episode 13 Calls Back To Hitchcock Thrillers And Classic Cinema
- 4/17/2024
- by Bryan Young
- Slash Film
It’s Time to Move on From The Darth Maul’s Fight; Anakin vs Obi-Wan Duel is the Best Lightsaber Fight in Star Wars
- 4/17/2024
- by Nishanth A
- FandomWire
Melissa Etheridge and Danny Trejo Co-Chair Mobilize Recovery Bus Tour to Raise Awareness About Addiction (Exclusive)
- 4/18/2024
- by Marc Malkin
- Variety Film + TV
‘American Idol’ Fans Recognize Contestants From ‘The Voice’
- 4/18/2024
- by Amanda Blankenship
- TV Shows Ace
Mark Consuelos Owns Up to Mistakes & Challenges of Hosting ‘Live’ with Wife Kelly Ripa
- 4/18/2024
- TV Insider
ABC 2023-24 TV Season Ratings (updated 4/18/2024)
- 4/19/2024
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
We Don’t Want So You Think You Can Dance to End — But It Can’t Go On Like This
- 4/18/2024
- by Rebecca Iannucci
- TVLine.com
Charity Lawson Plans Exotic Vacation With Fiance & Two Exes
- 4/18/2024
- by Jennifer Havener
- TV Shows Ace
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.