45 years ago

Fox initially owned the merchandising rights and was able to make quite a few dollars on the initial Kenner figures, books, and apparel. However, in a bad move to make a quick buck, they gave the farm away to Lucas who was then able to sell that “farm” to Disney for $4 billion many years later.

Since George Lucas financed The Empire Strikes Back, he was looking to Fox to distribute the movie. Since Lucas owned the movie, he could have any studio distribute the movie. The problem is that Lucas wanted the merchandising rights back. So in order to distribute Empire and retain video rights for 7 years, Fox gave George Lucas back the merchandising rights away just to distribute Empire. It was a shortsighted decision to give up merchandising rights just to distribute the next Star Wars movie. Maybe Fox didn’t think there was a future for merchandising, but Lucas was making more films.

A huge difference to when I went to see Death Race (2008). Queue=0 Patrons=2 (me and my brother). After watching it I understood why. Thanks bro.

I remember the movie theater I saw it at was busy for months on end when that movie came out. I remember the big bright sign that would show the name of the movies being played out front. Long lines just to get into the parking lot. Then another long line at the ticket window. Everybody in line hoping they could get in before it sold out, making them wait for the next showing. I remember a small burger chain around here named Burger Chef was one of the first to come out with Star wars collectable toys that came with a meal. It was certainly a big deal around here for a long time that year.

I went to see it at our local cinema. I remember standing in the queue and looking down the road. Only BD-123 will know what I'm on about but the queue from the Odeon went down Foregate and turned into Castle Street. I'd never seen such queues.

I saw it again the following week, the queues were still mental.

I lived in Alaska at the time (I was 14), and we didn't get it up there until August of that year, and it was driving me crazy waiting. And yes, there were long lines, and it played in the theater for months. I saw it 8 times during its first run, and that was the first time I had gone to see a movie more than once.

Heh, so even in low population Alaska there were long lines to see the movie! I guess your town had one movie theater?

Sometimes I miss the 80's.

Don't worry man. Before you know it you'll hit the 80's. We're the last analog generation.

Don't worry man. Before you know it you'll hit the 80's. We're the last analog generation.

And the first digital generation.

Family Guy made fun of the Star Wars films.

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Heh, so even in low population Alaska there were long lines to see the movie! I guess your town had one movie theater?

maybe because it was a non-Star Wars job (trying not to be typecast)?

Good thing that she was better with a blaster than an Armalite ...

maybe because it was a non-Star Wars job (trying not to be typecast)?

Good thing that she was better with a blaster than an Armalite ...

One of the funniest scenes in the whole movie.