Ever since Disney announced it would be purchasing all Star Wars properties from Lucasfilm in 2012, the hype train among major fans has been quickly reviving itself after more than a decade since a film was released. With the very recent successes of both Disney-produced Star Wars films, it's clear this passionate fanbase hadn't strayed too far from the franchise to happily usher in a new wave of characters and storylines to please both veteran Star Wars fanatics and newcomers to the franchise.
The beloved Star Wars franchise dates back to its first entry "A New Hope" way back in 1977 when no property before it had garnered the following it did in so little time. The film and the hype surrounding its subsequent entries created the "fan culture" we associate today with plenty of blockbuster franchises (think the Marvel Cinematic Universe or "Fast And The Furious"). Ironically, many of the cast and crew working on the first film thought it would be a huge flop in terms of box office numbers, and lots of studios turned down the film before Twentieth Century Fox took on the risk. How then could such an absurd idea for a movie spawn into one of the most beloved franchises of all time?
1. A Familiar Structure
A huge part of the reason why the original trilogy of Star Wars films is so popular is that it follows a familiar structure in storytelling called the Hero's Journey. Outlined by Joseph Campbell in "Hero With A Thousand Faces", the Hero's Journey is a structure used in plenty of popular media, like in the original "Spider-Man". It follows a chosen hero that overcomes trials accompanied by some mentor figure until the mentor exits the story and the hero is forced to step up for himself and discover his true potential.
One of the most iconic parts of the extensive lore of Star Wars is its concept of a chosen hero who learns of his own potential and must use it to save the galaxy. This idea not only derives from Joseph Campbell's structure but basically follows it step-by-step through Luke's journey across the first three movies.
2. Expanded Universe
Even though there have been long periods of time between different films in the Star Wars franchise, the passionate fanbase has somehow managed to stay alive through several hiatuses. This is partially a result of the extended universe continuing the franchise's lore in the form of novels, comics, and other spin-off media. What's even more unique about the expanded universe of Star Wars stories is that until very recently, just about anyone could contribute their own ideas. Independent authors built upon the established lore of the movies and fleshed out new parts of the universe or characters with little screentime in the actual movies. These additions to the franchise and the embrace of fan-made content have allowed the community of Star Wars fans to survive even in the absence of new films.
3. Creative Sci-Fi Elements
While many were hesitant to take a chance on Star Wars because of its outlandish ideas and silly premise, those aspects were actually major contributing factors to the franchise's success. At the time, no studio had made a science fiction film with the grand sense of scope and bombastic style that Star Wars carries on its sleeve. It was an entirely original concept, and for that it was praised despite its cheesy and fun approach, which might have been labeled as childish or mindless. Instead, the film's story combines its fun moments with genuine moments of character development and seriousness to create an altogether unique and enjoyable experience.
4. "Event" Films
Even when Star Wars was just beginning to amass even a fraction of the huge following it carries today, fans were lining up in the theater hours before the premiere of a new movie because they were eager to find out what was in store for the characters they had grown to love. Especially back in the 70s when Internet spoilers were nonexistent, people treated the opening of a large movie like Star Wars as if it were an event. This was particularly helpful in the case of Star Wars when the second film in the franchise, "The Empire Strikes Back", shocked millions of people with the reveal that Darth Vader is Luke's father. While it's common knowledge now, people were especially amazed at the discovery when it was first revealed to them during the movie because they had no previous knowledge of any such twist happening.
Now it's become tremendously difficult to hide important plot points from the public before a film's release, and it's much more likely for them to be spoiled on social media directly after. Still, though, the Star Wars franchise has somehow found a way to keep the magic alive and turned its recent films into the same type of events that so many people gather anticipation for.
5. Technological Achievements
If you pick up a copy of any of the original Star Wars today, its effects might seem a little dated compared to the advancements we've made since their release. But back when the Star Wars movies were first released, their effects were considered world-changing in the world of film since nothing to that degree had ever been done before. George Lucas had somehow crafted a film that actually looked like it was set in space and had achieved never-before-seen practical effects for its creature design. Some of these fantastic-looking creatures and characters have become iconic figures of film history over time, two prominent ones being C-3PO and Yoda.
The fact that most of these effects were practically achieved (that is, with the help of actual objects or puppets and not computer generation) has allowed them to stand the test of time much more effectively than plenty of other franchises have. Plus, when moviegoers first saw how the Star Wars galaxy looked in the first film, they witnessed a feeling they had never seen before up on the big screen.
6. The Jedi Religion
The concept of Jedi and "the Force" might seem like complete science-fiction nonsense the way they are used in the Star Wars movies, but their origins actually derive from real-life concepts of Buddhist spirituality (and the Christian idea of a battle between "good" and "evil"). This might seem like just a tidbit of trivia, but it actually adds something to the Star Wars lore that makes it unique from practically any other. Star Wars delves into a few metaphysical and philosophical concepts about the natural balance of all living and non-living things that resonate with a lot of viewers.
Not only is it unique for this type of message to be featured in a science-fiction adventure movie, but it just adds to the odd sense of communion felt between Star Wars fans as they embrace something they love so dearly. Any record of a Star Wars convention or fan get-together can show you how dedicated the fans are to the franchise and how they almost treat it as a religion of its own.
7. Merchandising
It seems standard for all the major blockbusters to come out with matching toys and posters to siphon money from the fans, but this practice did not exist nearly to the level it does today until Star Wars. Star Wars set a precedent by capitalizing on its rabid fanbase in the form of merchandising. Every new film came with its own set of toys, shirts, posters, etc, all of which served as vehicles through which fans could express their love for the franchise. Nowadays the newer Star Wars films are continuing this tradition of merchandise, so much so that they've practically become like collectibles for the most hardcore fans to scavenge on the day of release.
8. Political Undertones
Spirituality isn't the only thing lying underneath the surface of the Star Wars movies. The plot of Star Wars follows a young hero realizing his potential amongst a rag-tag group of rebels, creatively named "the Rebellion", while trying to fight back against a malicious political force called "the Empire". This story has continued through every Star Wars film and serves as a parallel to many oppressive governments and institutions that exist today. It's a classic David and Goliath retelling with a positive, inspirational message of heroes rising up in the face of oppression.
9. Emotional Attachment
The clearest aspect of Star Wars that draws in such a passionate audience is the long-standing legacy of its iconic and beloved characters. From Han Solo's iconic role as a smooth-talking ex-smuggler to Leia's many quotable lines, the characters established in Star Wars create a uniquely interesting dynamic that makes the franchise's insane space adventures extremely enjoyable to watch unfold.
The desire to spend more time with the film's motley crew of likable characters is what drove audiences back into theaters in the 70s and 80s, and it's also exactly what is currently fueling the newest generation of films. A combination of new and old characters are adding new dynamics into the mix and furthering the iconic story so many fans like myself know and love. The way the hype has lasted even after so many years suggests a bright future for Star Wars fans who want to spend more time seeing these characters develop as we get more exciting entries in the franchise.
