Star Wars: A New Hope became an immortal piece of cinema history in 1977. The George Lucas classic spawned a series of successful sequels, prequels, and spin-offs that have raked in billions in revenue.
But, more importantly, the franchise has created a cult following across the globe. This Star Wars fever has spread to each and every corner of the planet, and New Zealanders have shown no immunity to its allure.
The tales from the Galaxy far far away were quite popular in New Zealand long before proud Kiwis like Temuera Morrison and Taika Waititi became a part of the franchise.
What is the favourite pastime activity for New Zealanders? Many enjoy gambling and trying their luck at making quick money online. Others love watching their favourite sports teams in action. For many pop-culture fans in the country, enjoying Star Wars media, be it movies, comics, or games, is their best idea for spending a cosy day off.
May 4th is Star Wars Day, but fans down under celebrate it a day earlier. While the dates change because of geographical reasons, you will see no lack of passion among Star Wars fans in New Zealand.
Cinemas across major cities run marathons, bars and restaurants offer Star Wars-centric specials, and even online casinos NZ offer Star Wars-themed slots to get in on the fun.
In the early days, Star Wars fans in New Zealand used to celebrate the franchise informally. But in recent years, Disney and Lucas Films have picked up on the Star Wars craze in New Zealand.
Now, Star Wars fans in New Zealand get official marketing campaigns specifically targeted at them. Disney and Lucas Films also treat them to some exclusive merchandise releases from time to time.
Disney+’s debut in New Zealand has made Star Wars more accessible to fans than ever before. From the comfort of their homes, fans can now savour the movies as well as original shows like The Mandalorian, Bad Batch and others. New stories brought to light by the streaming platform let the Kiwi audience explore the legends and backstories of many beloved characters more closely.
The Star Wars story started for many New Zealanders with the first trilogy. George Lucas crafted these films at a time when the idea of science fiction was mostly confined within pages of books. He blended creative visual effects with the epic tale of good against evil. Cinemagoers all around the globe were left spellbound, the ones in New Zealand were no exception.
The prequel trilogies hooked the next generation of Star Wars fans in the late 1990s and the early 2000s. Younger viewers were left fascinated by the tales of Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the founding of the Galactic Empire. Though opinions on the prequels are divided, these films were instrumental in ingraining Star Wars into the Kiwi cultural consciousness.
Sequels and spin-offs continue to expand the universe even further. Recent content like Rogue One, The Mandalorian, and Andor have brought in many younger fans to the franchise.
What does Star Wars mean to its fans in New Zealand? For older viewers, it’s a nostalgia trip to the days gone by. For newer fans, it’s an exciting dive into a universe that has endless possibilities in terms of narratives.
Though they are universal, the franchise’s themes of optimism, revolt, and solidarity especially speak to a country that prizes community spirit and resilience.
Star Wars is not just a series of films in New Zealand, it’s a common experience that bridges generations. The Force remains strong in the Land of the Long White Cloud.