Star Wars (franchise)

***Star Wars*** is an American epic space opera franchise centered on a film series created by George Lucas. The popular film series has spawned an extensive media franchise which is organized as canon. The Expanded Universe includes books, television series, computer and video games, and comic books. These supplements to the three film trilogies have resulted in significant development of the series' fictional universe.

These media kept the franchise active in the interim between the film trilogies. The franchise depicts a galaxy described as far, far away in the distant past, and it commonly portrays Jedi as a representation of good as they fight for the Republic, in conflict with the Sith, their evil counterparts who fight for the Empire. Their weapon of choice, the lightsaber, is commonly recognized in popular culture. The fictional universe also contains many themes, especially influences of philosophy and religion.

The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title *Star Wars*, by 20th Century Studios, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year intervals. Sixteen years after the release of the trilogy's final film, the first in a new prequel trilogy of films was released. The three prequel films were also released at three-year intervals, with the final film of the trilogy released on May 19, 2005.

In October 2012, The Walt Disney Company bought Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion and announced that it would produce three new films, with the first film, *Star Wars: The Force Awakens*, released in 2015. Despite the Walt Disney Company's 2012 purchase of Lucasfilm and the release rights to all future *Star Wars* films, Fox was to retain original distribution rights to *Star Wars: A New Hope*, which they co-produced and co-financed, in perpetuity in all media worldwide. Fox was also to retain theatrical, nontheatrical, and home video rights worldwide for the franchise's five subsequent films, which Lucasfilm produced and financed independently, through May 2020, at which time ownership was to transfer to Disney. This complex relationship between Fox and Disney, particularly in regards to Fox's perpetual rights to Episode IV, was to create an obstacle for any future boxed set comprising all nine films. On December 14, 2017, the Walt Disney Company announced that it is acquiring most of Fox's parent company, 21st Century Fox, including the film studio and all distribution rights to *A New Hope*.

Reactions to the original trilogy were mostly positive, with the last film being considered the weakest, while, inversely, the prequel trilogy received a more mixed reaction, with most of the praise being for the final movie, according to most review aggregator websites. All six of the main films in the series were also nominated for or won Academy Awards. All of the main films have been box office successes, with the overall box office revenue generated by the *Star Wars* films (including the theatrical *Star Wars: The Clone Wars*) totaling $5.4 billion, making it the fourth-highest-grossing film series. The success has also led to multiple re-releases in theaters for the series.

**Shows:** *Star Wars Droids* • *Star Wars: Clone Wars* • *Star Wars: The Clone Wars* • *Star Wars Rebels* • *Star Wars Forces of Destiny* • *The Mandalorian* • *Star Wars: The Bad Batch* • *The Book of Boba Fett* • *Obi-Wan Kenobi* • *Tales of the Jedi* • *Ahsoka* • *The Acolyte* • *Star Wars: Lando*

**Shows** Ahsoka Tano • Captain Rex • Sabine Wren • Hera Syndulla • Chopper • Garazeb Orrelios • Riyo Chuchi • Bo-Katan Kryze • Ezra Bridger • Kanan Jarrus • Grogu • Kuiil • Numa • The Armorer • Cara Dune • Greef Karga • Asajj Ventress • Savage Opress • Cad Bane • Moff Gideon • Grand Inquisitor • Fennec Shand

1. ↑ Template:Cite web
2. ↑ Template:Cite web