There's no denying that Star Wars is one of the foundational pillars of modern popular culture, but it wouldn't exist without a hugely successful low-budget movie from the early '70s. Later retconned to Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope , the 1977 original was a breath of fresh air during a somewhat dour period of cinema history.

Star Wars combined sci-fi and fantasy like the classic serials of the '30s and '40s. However, it also introduced a world with complex lore and nearly endless opportunities for more storytelling. Audiences were quick to respond, and Star Wars made over $300 million domestically (via Box Office Mojo ) or over a billion and a half after inflation.

The rest is history, and the franchise still flourishes today under the stewardship of Disney. George L

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