It’s no falsehood to say that 41 years ago today, in 32 cinemas across the United States, the world of entertainment irrevocably changed. We all know the story, there’s no need to repeat it but there is definitely the need to celebrate the arrival of A New Hope – then known simply as Star Wars.
Made on a budget of $11 million dollars the film ended its run many years and releases later with $460,998,007 in the bank. Not the most spectacular figure in 2018, but when adjusted that number multiplies up to a staggering $1,631,575,500, second only 1939’s Gone With The Wind. To put that into some kind of perspective, 2015’s The Force Awakens – in pure numbers the most successful North American film ever – has an adjusted figure of $990,334,300.
It’s almost impossible to overstate what a seismic occurrence the arrival of Star Wars was, and 41 years later we still roll with the aftershocks. We may have lost many of its cast and crew over the past four decades (McQuarrie, Fisher, Guinness, Cushing, Baker) while the Maker George Lucas has opted to put family first, sell Lucasfilm and retire. No other series has been able to so successfully go back to the well quite like Star Wars – Solo: A Star Wars Story, on release right now, is a strong example of that – and as we head into year 42 long may that continue.
