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Star Wars
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<p><i>Star Wars</i> is an American <a href="/facts/Epic_film/wWInDjcD">epic</a> <a href="/facts/Space_opera/dA55c3Vs">space opera</a> <a href="/facts/Media_franchise/IBzGhQjA">media franchise</a> created by <a href="/facts/George_Lucas/1bLspXbj">George Lucas</a>, which began with the <a href="/facts/Star_Wars_(film)/J4eECtTN">eponymous 1977 film</a> and <a href="/facts/Cultural_impact_of_Star_Wars/YdgaR2dt">quickly became</a> a worldwide <a href="/facts/Popular_culture/cKj0ho02">pop culture</a> phenomenon. The franchise has been expanded into <a href="/facts/List_of_Star_Wars_films/hTYjDxUp">various films</a> and <a href="/facts/Star_Wars_expanded_to_other_media/LLIFRTHk">other media</a>, including <a href="/facts/List_of_Star_Wars_television_series/rf2mf1kf">television series</a>, <a href="/facts/Star_Wars_video_games/IqS3vCYt">video games</a>, <a href="/facts/List_of_Star_Wars_books/kQJLebtJ">novels</a>, <a href="/facts/List_of_Star_Wars_comic_books/qV25GxR4">comic books</a>, <a href="/facts/List_of_Star_Wars_theme_parks_attractions/VMq1GyW4">theme park attractions</a>, and <a href="/facts/Star_Wars%3a_Galaxy%2527s_Edge/xjV5STwX">themed areas</a>, comprising <a href="/facts/Universe_of_Star_Wars/9Y5j3IPP">an all-encompassing fictional universe</a>. <i>Star Wars</i> is one of the <a href="/facts/List_of_highest-grossing_media_franchises/1NfBbxte">highest-grossing media franchises</a> of all time. </p><p>The original 1977 film, retroactively subtitled <i><a href="/facts/Star_Wars_(film)/J4eECtTN">Episode IV: A New Hope</a></i>, was followed by the sequels <i><a href="/facts/The_Empire_Strikes_Back/adwNrWTT">Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back</a></i> (1980) and <i><a href="/facts/Return_of_the_Jedi/DgH4n192">Episode VI: Return of the Jedi</a></i> (1983), forming the <a href="/facts/Star_Wars_original_trilogy/PT7MaVNE">original <i>Star Wars</i> trilogy</a>. Lucas later returned to the series to write and direct <a href="/facts/Star_Wars_prequel_trilogy/Fyswt67z">a prequel trilogy</a>, consisting of <i><a href="/facts/Star_Wars_Episode_I%3a_The_Phantom_Menace/NCRujVRV">Episode I: The Phantom Menace</a></i> (1999), <i><a href="/facts/Star_Wars_Episode_II%3a_Attack_of_the_Clones/H5op1Ss6">Episode II: Attack of the Clones</a></i> (2002), and <i><a href="/facts/Star_Wars_Episode_III%3a_Revenge_of_the_Sith/bKJfL3z4">Episode III: Revenge of the Sith</a></i> (2005). In 2012, Lucas sold <a href="/facts/Lucasfilm/7WjKBSjM">his production company</a> to <a href="/facts/The_Walt_Disney_Company/R8kCbAVc">Disney</a>, relinquishing his ownership of the franchise. This led to <a href="/facts/Star_Wars_sequel_trilogy/H8jQPXux">a sequel trilogy</a>, consisting of <i><a href="/facts/Star_Wars%3a_The_Force_Awakens/C76BvsxX">Episode VII: The Force Awakens</a></i> (2015), <i><a href="/facts/Star_Wars%3a_The_Last_Jedi/85rXcGj3">Episode VIII: The Last Jedi</a></i> (2017), and <i><a href="/facts/Star_Wars%3a_The_Rise_of_Skywalker/EcN4wKfe">Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker</a></i> (2019). </p><p>All nine films, collectively referred to as the "<a href="/facts/List_of_Star_Wars_films/hTYjDxUp">Skywalker Saga</a>", <a href="/facts/List_of_Star_Wars_films/hTYjDxUp">were nominated</a> for <a href="/facts/Academy_Awards/CwTxYuNQ">Academy Awards</a>, with Oscars going to the first three releases. Together with the theatrical live action "anthology" films <i><a href="/facts/Rogue_One/gerV3lh8">Rogue One</a></i> (2016) and <i><a href="/facts/Solo%3a_A_Star_Wars_Story/b1nLeY7T">Solo</a></i> (2018), the combined <a href="/facts/Box_office/jRSPtCsg">box office</a> revenue of the films equate to over US$10 billion, making <i>Star Wars</i> the <a href="/facts/List_of_highest-grossing_films/64Qtvz8F">third-highest-grossing film franchise</a> in <a href="/facts/Cinematic_history/Jb0yDMVC">cinematic history</a>. </p>