Star Wars is one of, if not the most popular movie franchise of all time. While many people love Star Trek, there is a reason Star Wars was far more successful. It was able to reach mainstream audiences far more effectively than Star Trek ever was. The Star Trek franchise has done very well for itself, earning Billions of dollars and maintaining a net worth of $10.7 Billion.
The Star Wars franchise has made four times the overall profit of Star Trek. Not to mention, the franchise boasts an impressive $70 billion in total between movies, TV shows, streaming rights, video games, and merchandise. Star Wars is one of the most successful franchises ever to exist. Dating back to 1973, the original founder of the franchise, George Lucas, started working on a project.
Star Wars The Space Opera?
His idea was to create a Space opera. Lucas took it upon himself to make something that stretched beyond the boring cliches of simple space exploration. He wanted to make something that every kid would be enveloped in. Believe it or not, George Lucas took major inspiration from Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon. Like Luke Skywalker, the main protagonist of the films, George Lucas grew up on his family farm.
It took years for Lucas to make his dream a reality. Early versions of Star Wars featured Han Solo as a Frog-like alien, Kane Starkiller as the main character, and the dark side of the force was even called “the bogan.” By 1976, the final draft was accepted as the film we know today. Lucas didn’t expect the second film to take place, but the immense success of A New Hope gave birth to a sequel.
The 2nd Most Successful Franchise Ever
With an 11 million dollar budget, the first film grossed over $511 million. This is one of the most amazing success stories any movie has ever experienced. While several more movies followed the original trilogy, the TV shows have opened a new world for die-hard fans. Let’s check out the best shows in the Star Wars universe. For a complete ranking of all the movies, click here!
Star Wars Rebels
This show covers an incredibly emotional time in the Star Wars universe. It follows a young Jedi Padawan who is forced to keep his powers a secret to avoid being killed by the newly found empire, which recently mass-exterminated nearly all of his fellow Jedi. It’s an emotional rollercoaster of a show that shows the growth and intense comradery that Ezra Bridger goes through to become a Jedi Knight.
The Mandalorian
The Mandalorian took the Star Wars universe by storm when it was initially released, and for good reason. It’s compelling and incredibly intense while also unconventional for Star Wars. I always loved the Star Wars comics about the Mandalorians as a kid. I highly recommend giving this one a watch if you somehow haven’t already.
Star Wars The Clone Wars
This is simply the best show Star Wars has ever put out. Originally marketed as a kid’s show, it’s truly anything but. While not inappropriate for kids, this show covers some incredibly intense concepts of war and relationships that I didn’t fully understand until I rewatched them as I got older. Every Star Wars fan should watch this show as it is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. A 10/10 masterpiece!
Ahsoka
Ahsoka was more extraordinary due to its fan service in existence itself. Fans of the aforementioned Clone Wars series fell in love with the young Ahsoka Tano, and this series brings her character to life for the rest of the world to see. I loved this series.
The Bad Batch
The Bad Batch is one of the most creative shows in the Star Wars universe. They made this show feel like the Clone Wars series and yet made it hyper-focused on the intense journey that takes place in this particular team of clones’ side of the galaxy. They are clones that don’t fit into norms and don’t always follow orders blindly, which makes for fascinating plot points as the show starts with them defying order 66…
