Star Wars is one of the biggest and most enduring film franchises of all time and a new instalment has hit the big screen this week, in the form of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
It has been a decade since the release of the last Star Wars movie and it is one of the most anticipated films of 2015 - it's fair to say that it is also going to be the biggest.
We take a look back at the franchise - from the first film back in 1977 to the recent films - and see how each movie has performed at the box office.
- Star Wars: A New Hope - $775.4 million
It was back in 1977 when the first film was released, which was known simply as Star Wars. The movie was written and directed by George Lucas and was only the third feature film of his career.
The movie introduced us to Luke Skywalker, who joins forces with a Jedi Knight, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and two droids to set out on a mission to save Princess Leia from Darth Vader. A New Hope blasted us into the world of Jedi's wookies, and the Dark Side for the first time and captured the imagination of a generation of film lovers.
A New Hope was a massive box office hit and grossed over $775 million by the end of its theatrical run - surpassing Jaws to become the highest grossing film of all time.
Over the years, Star Wars: A New Hope has been re-released and was the start of one of the greatest film franchises of all time. The movie was met with critical acclaim and went on to be nominated for ten Oscars, including Best Picture.
While the movie did not win Best Picture, it would pick up six awards; Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, Best Sound and Best Visual Effects.
- Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back - $538,375,067
Fans had to wait three years until The Empire Strikes back in 1980... but it was worth the wait as it is widely regarded as the best film in the original series.
However, when the film was first released, The Empire Strikes Back was met with mixed results. It is only in retrospect as this film become the most acclaimed in the series.
The movie saw Mark Hamill, Han Solo, and Carrie Fisher reprise the roles of Luke Skywalker, Harrison Ford, and Princess Leia. However, there was a new face in the director's chair as Irvin Kershner took over from George Lucas.
Much like the first film, The Empire Strikes Back was packed with some terrific action and one of the best film reveals of all time. For me, this remains one of the greatest plot twists of all time.
The film may not have done quite as well as A New Hope by the end of its theatrical release, but a haul of over $538 million is pretty impressive. The Empire Strikes Back returned to cinemas in the UK earlier this year and was in the top ten for several weeks.
- Star Wars: Return of the Jedi - $572.1 million
It was 1983 when the third and final film in the original series hit the big screen and saw Richard Marquand in the director's chair - the first time he had helmed a Star Wars movie.
Return of the Jedi follows the rebels as they try to destroy the second Death Star. Luke has a battle of his own as he tries to turn Darth Vader away from the dark side.
Return of the Jedi was another box office hit for the franchise as it grossed over $572 million at the global box office and was met by positive reviews.
Return of the Jedi was a triumphant end to a great film series and fans sadly waved goodbye to some of the cinema's most iconic characters. Over thirty years later, we are going to see Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher return to the roles of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Leia in The Force Awakens.
- Star Wars: The Phantom Menace - $924.3 million
Nearly twenty years had passed before Star Wars return to the big screen and it was The Phantom Menace that was to relaunch the sci-fi series.
Written and directed by George Lucas, The Phantom Menace was set before the original series and followed a young Anakin Skywalker as he sets out on his journey to become a Jedi knight.
Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, and Ian McDiarmid were just some of the new names on the cast list and was one of the most anticipated films of 1999.
Despite mixed reviews from the critics, The Phantom Menace was a box office smash as it grossed over $924.3 million worldwide; at the time, it was the second highest grossing movie behind Titanic. The movie has been re-released since, which has seen it break the $1 billion barrier. the movie was comfortably the highest grossing movie of 1999.
It remains the most financially successful film of the series - however, I don't think that is going to last much longer. The Phantom Menace not only kicked off a new trilogy of movies, but it brought the world of Star Wars to a new generation.
- Star Wars: Attack of the Clones - $649.4 million
Four years after the release and success of The Phantom Menace, George Lucas returned with Attack of the Clones. As well as being in the director's chair, Lucas also teamed up with Jonathan Hales to pen the film's screenplay.
Attack of the Clones is set ten years after events of Phantom Menace and is set in a galaxy that is on the verge of Civil War. Anakin has now grown and is in a forbidden romance with Padme. Ewan McGregor and Natalie Portman reprised the roles of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Padme, while Hayden Christensen took over the role of Anakin Skywalker for the first time. Samuel L. Jackson and Christopher Lee were also on the cast list.
While the excitement and hype surrounded the release of Attack of the Clones was not as great as that of The Phantom Menace, the movie was another box office hit as it grossed over $649 million worldwide.
Attack of the Clones easily earnt back its $115 million budget, but it was only the fourth highest grossing movie of the year; behind The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and Spider-Man.
- Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith - $848.8 million
The second Star Wars trilogy came to an end in 2005 when Revenge of the Sith hit the big screen. Revenge of the Sith is set three years after The Clone Wars and sees Anakin complete his journey to the dark side and become Darth Vader.
Sadly, the movie struggled critically but it was a box office success as it grossed over $848 million worldwide - making it the second highest grossing Star Wars film of all time; again something that is about to change.
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith was the second highest grossing movie of 2005 - second only to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
It would be the last time that we would see Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, and Hayden Christensen in the franchise as Lucas said goodbye to the franchise for a second time.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens is set thirty years after events of Return of the Jedi and is the first Star Wars film since The Walt Disney Company's acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012.
The movie sees J.J. Abrams back in the director's chair as he helms a Star Wars film for the first time. While we are going to be seeing Hamill, Ford, and Fisher return to the series, John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Andy Serkis, and Domhnall Gleeson are some of the new names on board.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens is out now.
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