Twentieth Century Fox had so little faith in 'Star Wars' that it opened in just 32 theaters, mostly as a favor to secure the studio's next picture. Audiences lined up around blocks within days. The film's mix of mythic storytelling, groundbreaking visual effects from Industrial Light & Magic, and John Williams's score turned it into a cultural phenomenon and redefined the summer blockbuster.
When 'Star Wars' opened on May 25, 1977, its own studio barely believed in it. Fox executives were so unconvinced that director George Lucas negotiated to keep sequel and merchandising rights in lieu of a bigger salary — a decision that would make him a billionaire. The film opened in only 32 theaters nationwide, a modest rollout for what became one of the highest-grossing films ever made.
Within a week, lines wrapped around city blocks as word spread about the film's dazzling special effects, created by Lucas's newly formed Industrial Light & Magic using techniques that pushed 1970s technology to its limits. John Williams's score, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, became instantly iconic.
The film's success rewrote the economics of moviemaking, proving that science fiction could be mainstream, that merchandising could dwarf box office revenue, and that a single summer release could dominate global culture for decades. Toy sales alone eventually outstripped the film's theatrical earnings many times over.
Key people: George Lucas, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, John Williams