Share and Follow
A franchise with an impact on pop culture that can hardly be measured, “Star Wars” may have had the biggest effect on Hollywood itself. Created by fledgling filmmaker George Lucas and released in 1977, it changed the landscape of the movie business forever in ways that are still being felt today.
Beyond the film’s revolutionary special effects that reshaped the industry, Lucas’ focus on merchandising changed the way Tinseltown treats its films as a product. It also gave rise to the franchise as we know it with a focus on product tie-ins that are just as popular as the movie itself (via Vox).
The original “Star Wars” trilogy introduced the world to some of cinema’s most iconic characters ever, resonated around the globe, and forced its way into the zeitgeist. For decades, it was the larger franchise of expanded media that kept it alive, with video games, comic books, and toys turning a simple movie series into a veritable empire.
Read Related Also: Mandy Director Opens up about “Bizarre” Next Film and Love for Buckaroo Banzai
The long-awaited prequel trilogy beginning in 1999 might not have been as well-received, but it re-energized the brand and lead to the eventual acquisition by Disney (via CNBC). More films, animated adventures, and several live action spin-off series have ensured the franchise’s continued dominance.
But beyond its wealth of content, “Star Wars” just might be one of the most beloved sci-fi franchises ever in terms of sheer number of fans. Its story is timeless, its adventures are iconic, and its popularity stretches around the globe, which arguably has made it the most influential of any film series ever made.
