THE BOX OFFICE AWAKENS
At $9.2 billion and counting, the epic film saga is the stuff of legends
If you think the new Star Wars movie won’t do well at the box office, we find your lack of faith disturbing.
Since 1977, the series has captivated audiences with its quintessential, epic tale of good versus evil. The 10 movies (No. 11, The Rise of Skywalker, hitting theatres Thursday) have drawn in audiences around the world thanks to their groundbreaking special effects and mystical storytelling.
Each film can stand on its own, but together they form one of the most thoroughly developed worlds in cinema.
The Star Wars saga is a global phenomenon, and the box office numbers prove it. Yet there have been hiccups: Did the lukewarm reception to last year’s Solo: A Star Wars Story betray a chink in the franchise’s armour? The films have amassed more than US$9.2 billion worldwide so far.
From Box Office Mojo, following is a look at the worldwide box office numbers for each movie’s initial run in theatres. (All figures in U.S. dollars, not adjusted for inflation.)
STAR WARS: EPISODE IV — A NEW HOPE (1977)
The one that started it all introduces us to Luke, Han, Leia, Chewie, Vader and both sides of the Force, immediately grabbing audience attention with the opening shot of the Rebel Blockade Runner being chased by a Star Destroyer.
Box office: $503 million
STAR WARS: EPISODE V — THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980)
Empire gives us arguably the most famous movie quote of all time which people regularly get wrong. It’s not: “Luke, I am your father.” It’s: “No, I am your father.”
Box office: $400 million
STAR WARS: EPISODE VI — RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983)
As the finale of the original trio, it wraps everything up and has the adorable (or annoying) Ewoks, depending on who you ask.
Box office: $375 million
STAR WARS: EPISODE I — THE PHANTOM MENACE (1999)
Creator George Lucas starts the prehistory of his original trio. There’s too much Jar Jar Binks, but Darth Maul’s double-bladed lightsaber is pretty cool.
Box office: $924 million
STAR WARS: EPISODE II — ATTACK OF THE CLONES (2002)
Anakin Skywalker is growing up. As Obi-wan teaches him the ways of the Force, we begin to see his descent into the dark side and his growing love for Luke and Leia’s mother, Padmé Amidala. Box office: $641 million
STAR WARS: EPISODE III — REVENGE OF THE SITH (2005)
The story as we know it comes together in a final battle between former friends Obi-wan and Anakin.
Box office: $850 million
Han, Leia and Chewie make a comeback as they pass the torch to the next generation of heroes, Rey, Finn and Poe.
Box office: $2 billion
ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY (2016)
The first movie not centred on the Skywalkers instead follows Jyn Erso, the daughter of the man who designed the Death Star.
Box office: $1 billion
STAR WARS: EPISODE VIII — THE LAST JEDI (2017)
Luke is back for the first time since 1983, isolated on an island in a distant part of the galaxy. Rey warns him of the evil Kylo Ren and he agrees to train her to become a Jedi.
Box office: $1.3 billion
SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY (2018)
Who wouldn’t want a movie focusing on a young Han Solo and his pal Chewie? But it turns out fewer than the studio had hoped.
Box office: $392 million
WHAT’S NEXT?
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker concludes the Skywalker Saga that’s been running since 1977. Disney now says it will pause the movies to concentrate on television projects. With a slew of those ideas in the works, that galaxy of a long time ago and far, far away appears still to be limitless.