The following eras were defined in January 2021: The Star Wars canon fictional universe spans multiple eras, of which three are focused around each of the film trilogies. Illicit activities include smuggling and slavery. Bounty hunters are often employed by both gangsters and governments. In the outer reaches of the galaxy, crime syndicates such as the Hutt cartel are dominant. The rest of the population, as well as renegades and soldiers, use laser-powered blaster firearms. The Jedi and Sith prefer the use of a weapon called a lightsaber, a blade of energy that can cut through virtually any surface and deflect energy bolts. įorce-wielders are very limited in numbers in comparison to the average population. While Jedi Knights can be numerous, the Dark Lords of the Sith (or 'Darths') are intended to be limited to two: a master and their apprentice. The Force is wielded by two major knightly orders at conflict with each other: the Jedi, peacekeepers of the Galactic Republic who act on the light side of the Force through non-attachment and arbitration, and the Sith, who use the dark side by manipulating fear and aggression. Through training and meditation, those whom "the Force is strong with" are able to perform various superpowers (such as telekinesis, precognition, telepathy, and manipulation of physical energy). Telecommunication includes two-way audio and audiovisual screens, and holographic projections.Ī mystical power known as the Force is described in the original film as "an energy field created by all living things. Spacecraft range from small starfighters, to huge capital ships such as the Star Destroyers, to space stations such as the moon-sized Death Stars. The Star Wars franchise depicts the adventures of characters "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away", in which humans and many species of aliens (often humanoid) co-exist with robots, or ' droids', who may assist them in their daily routines space travel between planets is common due to lightspeed hyperspace technology. 4.3.2 LucasArts and modern self-published games (1993–2014).This has led to a backlash among the traditional white male fans of the franchise. A secondary criticism is an increasing focus on shallow fan service and nostalgic elements, at the expense of any novel or original exploration of the Star Wars universe.
The new films' storylines have emphasized feminist and other progressive social and political plot elements to such an extent that Star Wars is said to have become SJW converged. The franchise has undergone major changes in its themes and concepts since it was acquired by The Walt Disney Company in 2012. Together with the theatrical live action spin-off films Rogue One (2016) and Solo (2018), the combined box office revenue of the films equates to over US$10 billion, and it is currently the second-highest-grossing film franchise of all time. The subsequently produced sequel trilogy consists of Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015), Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017), and Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019).Īll nine films of the ' Skywalker saga' were nominated for Academy Awards (with wins going to the first two released) and were commercially successful. In 2012, Lucas sold his production company to Disney, relinquishing his ownership of the franchise. Lucas later returned to filmmaking to direct a prequel trilogy, consisting of Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999), Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002), and Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005). The original film (Star Wars), retroactively subtitled Episode IV: A New Hope (1977), was followed by the sequels Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983), forming the original Star Wars trilogy. In 2020, its total value was estimated at US$70 billion, and it is currently the fifth-highest-grossing media franchise of all time. The franchise has been expanded into various films and other media, including television series, video games, novels, comic books, theme park attractions, and themed areas, comprising an all-encompassing fictional universe. Star Wars is an American epic space opera media franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the eponymous 1977 film Template:EpIV and quickly became a worldwide pop-culture phenomenon. Space opera media franchise Template:SHORTDESC:Space opera media franchise Star Wars