The original Star Wars films remain some of the most popular movies ever made, achieving a level of recognition in American and worldwide culture rivaled only by The Wizard of Oz and Gone With the Wind (1939).
Following a recent resurgence with Disney purchasing Lucasfilm™ in 2012, the Star Wars story has continued with new cast members bringing a great deal to the franchise. Another remarkable aspect of the Star Wars phenomenon that continues to influence the movie business today is the aggressiveness in which the films are marketed. It is common for every summer or winter film to have its merchandising tie-ins, such as cups, or action figures with a film’s characters.
Nearly 40 years after the first Star Wars film debuted, sci-fi movies remain as popular as ever, capturing the imaginations of multiple generations and gaining new fans as the next movie in the franchise, Episode 8, premieres in December, 2017.
In the bigger picture, “The Last Jedi” title reveal means fans are now one step closer to seeing actual footage from the new film, which could be coming sooner than later.
Source: Lucasfilm