Star Wars Episode
|
|
Star Wars Saga 2 Episode III Heroes Villains Set of 12! $144.98 |
|
|
Star Wars: Episode II ,Japan movie chirashi,flyer $3.99 |
|
|
STAR WARS EPISODE 1 MICRO MACHINES 1998 ROYAL STARSHIP $1.00 |
|
|
STAR WARS EPISODE III 12″ GENERAL GRIEVOUS SITH LORD $0.99 |
|
|
XBOX Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith NEW $1.99 |
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, there was the little sci-fi movie that could “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope”. At the time, though, it was just known as Star Wars, and it created a franchise unlike anything seen before.
In 2005, Forbes magazine estimated that the Star Wars franchise, from the time it began in the late seventies, had generated more than twenty billion dollars in revenue, and with six big screen success stories, at least three spin-off films, five licensed television shows, and thousands of books, comic books, and toys, it’s no surprise. What might be a surprise, though, is that by the time Star Wars creator George Lucas finished the first film, he was over-budget, out of time, and convinced the film would be a flop. Early screenings of the film did little to improve Lucas’ ideas that the film would be any kind of success, but when it was finally released in the summer of 1977, the film earned nearly seven million dollars in its first weekend. It is considered to be the second highest profitable film of all time.
More than Great Films
Ask any Star Wars fan, though, and they’ll tell you it’s not just about the movies, it’s also about the associated merchandise. The initial film was predicted to be a flop, so no merchandise was created to debut with the film’s release. The toy company, Kenner, though had purchased the license to sell associate products By Christmas of 1977, demand was so high, Kenner created an “Early Bird Special” kit. The kit held a certificate fans could send in for four 3 inch figures as soon as they became available. On Christmas morning, thousands of kids got empty cardboard envelopes that held only a display stand, a Star Wars club card, a few stickers, and a certificate they could put their name and address on, mail in, and wait for several months for the first Star Wars toys ever produced to arrive. Months later, lots of kids did get Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, R2-D2, and Chewbacca in the mail, and years later, these four figures are considered to be some of the most valuable action figures on the collectors’ market today.
Explosive Industry Growth
As you can probably imagine, the Star Wars toy and merchandise franchise has grown considerably since the Christmas of 1977. Once Kenner geared up the production machine, it slowed for no one. From additional action figures to vehicles, playsets, and lightsabers, the vintage Star Wars toy market had everything. As Episodes V and VI were released, more toys hit the market. T-shirts, bed sheets, toothbrushes, combs, and watches were all part of the marketing campaign as well.
After the release of Return of the Jedi, though, the Star Wars marketing machine slowed considerably. People seemed to thing the Star Wars market was nearing the end. However, in the late 1990s, a new line of Star Wars action figures was released. Dubbed “The Power of the Force” line, these green carded figures created a whole new generation of collectors, and with the release of the special edition of the original trilogy, and the subsequent release of Star Wars Episode I, the marketing machine kicked back into high gear. From bubble bath to sandals, the Star Wars name can be found on almost anything these days, and with talk of additional television series, DVDs, and even other films, it’s hard to tell when the franchise will ever slow down.
About the Author:
The author is the Admin of the Anime Friends Network site AnimeMine.com, where you can meet new friends and discuss your favorite anime and manga subjects. This article can also be found at our free article directory Smarticlesmart.com. For more anime information please go to Animemine.com today. For more free articles please try Smarticlesmart.com.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Star Wars: The Franchise That May Never Disappear
Star Wars Episode 1 The Phantom Menace Trailer #1
|
|
Star Wars Saga 2 Episode III Heroes Villains Set of 12! $144.98 |
|
|
Star Wars: Episode II ,Japan movie chirashi,flyer $3.99 |
|
|
STAR WARS EPISODE 1 MICRO MACHINES 1998 ROYAL STARSHIP $1.00 |
|
|
STAR WARS EPISODE III 12″ GENERAL GRIEVOUS SITH LORD $0.99 |
|
|
XBOX Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith NEW $1.99 |
|
|
STAR WARS EPISODE 1 GASGANO W/PIT DROID NEW $15.00 |
|
|
Star Wars Obi-Wan-Kenobi Collectable Episode 1 $2.99 |
|
|
STAR WARS EPISODE 1 RUNE HAAKO FIGURE NEW $15.00 |
|
|
Star Wars Kotobukiya Episode III Obi-Wan Kenobi $24.99 |
|
|
Star Wars Episode 1 Naboo Fighter Nib $5.00 |
|
|
Star Wars Episode II by George Lucas, Jonathan Hales… $2.99 |
|
|
Star Wars Episode I C-3PO Droid Action Figure MOC EP1 $4.99 |
|
|
Star Wars Episode I The Phantom Menace PS1 Complete!! $9.91 |
|
|
Star Wars Episode I Watto Adult Deluxe Mask by Rubies $12.99 |
|
|
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones $1.99 |
|
|
Star Wars LEGO Minifig Anakin Episode 3 with saber $24.99 |
|
|
STAR WARS EPISODE I PHANTOM MENACE PS1 PS2 PLAYSTATION $6.47 |
|
|
***STAR WARS*EPISODE I*C-3PO*JUNIOR/CHILDS CHAIR*NIB*** $15.00
|
|
|
NEW STAR WARS DARTH MAUL EPISODE 1 COMPUTER MOUSE PAD $5.00 |
|
|
Star Wars Episode 1 Boss Nas Action Fig Nib $2.00 |
|
|
**STAR WARS*EPISODE I*DARTH MAUL*SNO-TUBE*NEW IN BOX** $49.99 |
|
|
Star Wars, Episode I – The Phantom Menace (Junior Novel $1.00 |
|
|
Star Wars, Episode I – The Phantom Menace (Junior Novel $1.00 |
|
|
Star Wars Episode 1 Program Darth Maul 1999 $9.99 |
|
|
Star Wars Episode 1 Jar Jar Binks Original Movie Poster $6.99 |
|
|
Burger King Star Wars Episode III Padme Amidala Toy New $1.00 |
|
|
DARTH MAUL Star Wars Episode I Autographed Ray Park 12″ $49.99 |
|
|
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (VHS, 2000) $1.00 |
|
|
Star Wars: Episode I trade (1999 DARK HORSE) vg/f $6.50 |
|
|
IKON STAR WARS EPISODE ONE SEALED / UNOPENED PACKS $1.99 |
|
|
Star Wars, Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (Sticker B $4.85 |
|
|
ANAKIN SKYWALKER Star Wars Episode I Action Collection $14.99 |
|
|
Star Wars: Episode II trade (2002 DARK HORSE) f/vf $9.00 |
|
|
Star Wars Episode I – Anakin Skywalker (Naboo) Figure $3.62 |
|
|
Star Wars: Episode III trade (2005 DARK HORSE) vf/nm $6.50 |
|
|
Star Wars Episode One Captain Tarpels $6.30 |
|
|
*STAR WARS*EPISODE I*TOPPS*HALLMARK*TRADING CARDS*MIP* $9.99 |
|
|
Star Wars Episode One Captain Panaka MOC $6.99 |
|
|
Star Wars Episode One Obi-Wan Kenobi “Naboo” MOC $6.29 |
|
|
Star Wars Episode I Qui-Gon Jinn Think Way Toys 1980 $40.00 |
|
|
Star Wars Episode One Chancellor Valorium MOC $3.60 |
|
|
* EPISODE I STAR WARS 1 ~ DARTH MAUL COLLAGE POSTER $6.99 |
|
|
Star Wars Episode 1 Podracing Pencil Pouch NEW! $4.19 |
|
|
Star Wars Episode One Destroyer Droid $6.30 |
|
|
* EPISODE II STAR WARS 2 ~ DARK SIDE COLLAGE POSTER $8.99 |
|
|
* EPISODE III STAR WARS 3 ~ YODA DETERMINED POSTER $6.99 |
|
|
Star Wars Episode One Qui Gon Jinn Jedi Duel MOC $4.50 |
|
|
Star Wars Episode One C3PO MOC $2.70 |
|
|
* EPISODE II STAR WARS 2 ~ JEDI KNIGHT COLLAGE POSTER $8.99 |
|
|
XBOX GAME STAR WARS EPISODE III 3 REVENGE OF THE SITH $19.99 |
|
|
Star Wars Movie Poster Full Size Print $3.99 New Full Size Poster. High Quality. Suitable for Framing…. |
|
|
Star Wars: Episode I-VI – Movie Poster (All Characters – With Space Ships) (Size: 36 x 24) $5.49 … |
|
|
Star Wars Lightsabers Jedi Master Door Poster, DP9515, 21-Inch by 62-Inch $10.99 This item is in new and mint condition. It has never been hung, used or displayed…. |
|
|
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack $6.68 John Williams’ lovely and moving score for the sixth Star Wars film brings thirty years of collaborating on George Lucas’ beyond-popular intergalactic franchise to a close. (Is this really the end of Star Wars? Can’t Lucas and Williams work together on a prequel to these prequels? Let us hope so, and that Jar Jar Binks is nowhere near it.) As this music accompanies the most exciting Star Wars film… |
|
|
The Best of Boston Pops $5.47 … |
|
|
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] $13.05 Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope… |
|
|
Star Wars Trilogy (Special Edition) [VHS] $9.00 The Star Wars trilogy had the rare distinction of becoming more than just a series of movies, but a cultural phenomenon, a life-defining event for its generation. On its surface, George Lucas’s original 1977 film is a rollicking and humorous space fantasy that owes debts to more influences than one can count on two hands, but filmgoers became entranced by its basic struggle of good vs. evil “a lon… |
|
|
Star Wars Trilogy [VHS] $5.49 Star Wars Trilogy [VHS]… |
|
|
Star Wars – Episode I, The Phantom Menace [VHS] $1.73 “I have a bad feeling about this,” says the young Obi-Wan Kenobi (played by Ewan McGregor) in Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace as he steps off a spaceship and into the most anticipated cinematic event… well, ever. He might as well be speaking for the legions of fans of the original episodes in the Star Wars saga who can’t help but secretly ask themselves: Sure, this is Star Wars, bu… |
|
|
Star Wars Episode I Space Battle Wall Border Decor … |