Editing Star Wars (film) (section)

== Legacy and influence ==
Ford, who subsequently starred in the ''[[Indiana Jones]]'' series (1981–2023), ''[[Blade Runner]]'' (1982), and ''[[Witness (1985 film)|Witness]]'' (1985), told the ''[[Daily Mirror]]'' that ''Star Wars'' "boosted" his career.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 20, 2010 |title=Ford: Star Wars boosted my career |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/ford-star-wars-boosted-my-career-1687514 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611065916/http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/ford-star-wars-boosted-my-career-1687514 |archive-date=June 11, 2014 |access-date=March 9, 2024 |work=[[Daily Mirror]] |publisher=[[Reach plc]]}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable ([[WP:NOTRS]]).|date=March 2024}} The film also spawned the ''[[Star Wars Holiday Special]]'', which debuted on [[CBS]] on November 17, 1978, and is often considered a failure; Lucas himself disowned it.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=TV Party|title=Star Wars on TV|url=http://www.tvparty.com/70starwars.html |access-date=September 2, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050524104154/http://www.tvparty.com/70starwars.html |archive-date=May 24, 2005 |url-status=live}}</ref> The special was never aired again after its original broadcast, and it has never been officially released on home video. However, many bootleg copies exist, and it has consequently become something of an underground legend.<ref name="Vanity Fair">{{cite magazine|last1=DiGiacomo|first1=Frank|title=The Han Solo Comedy Hour!|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/magazine/2008/12/star_wars_special200812|magazine=Vanity Fair|publisher=Condé Nast |access-date=May 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151230230058/http://www.vanityfair.com/magazine/2008/12/star_wars_special200812|archive-date=December 30, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== In popular culture ===
{{See also|Cultural impact of Star Wars}}
''Star Wars'' and its subsequent film installments have been explicitly referenced and satirized across a wide range of media. ''[[Hardware Wars]]'', released in 1978, was one of the first fan films to parody ''Star Wars''. It received positive critical reaction, earned over $1&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|index=US|value=1|start_year=1978|r=1}} million in {{Inflation/year|index=US}}), and is one of Lucas's favorite ''Star Wars'' spoofs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Calhoun |first=Bob |date=May 21, 2002 |title="Hardware Wars": The movie, the legend, the household appliances |url=https://www.salon.com/2002/05/21/hardware_wars/ |access-date=March 16, 2024 |website=Salon |language=en |archive-date=March 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316221302/https://www.salon.com/2002/05/21/hardware_wars/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Wineke|first=Andrew|title=Beloved sci-fi fairy tale has spawned a slew of ''Star Wars'' parodies, spinoffs|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-2768515.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140629085918/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-2768515.html|archive-date=June 29, 2014|work=[[The Gazette (Colorado Springs)|The Gazette]]|publisher=Clarity Media Group |access-date=May 21, 2014|date=May 20, 2005|via=HighBeam}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Brinn|first=David|title=The right place at the right time|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-222472315.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140629085914/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-222472315.html|archive-date=June 29, 2014|work=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |access-date=May 21, 2014|date=December 20, 2013|via=HighBeam}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|title=July 16, 1999 Episode|series=[[The Big Breakfast]]|first1=John|last1=Vaughan|first2=George|last2=Lucas |author-link1=Johnny Vaughan |author-link2=George Lucas|network=[[Channel 4]]|date=July 16, 1999}}</ref> Writing for ''The New York Times'', [[Frank DeCaro]] said, "''Star Wars'' littered pop culture of the late 1970s with a galaxy of space junk."<ref name="DeCaro" /> He cited ''[[Quark (TV series)|Quark]]'' (a short-lived 1977 [[sitcom]] that parodies the science fiction genre)<ref name="DeCaro" /> and ''[[Donny & Marie (1976 TV series)|Donny & Marie]]'' (a 1970s [[variety show]] that featured a 10-minute musical adaptation of ''Star Wars'' guest starring Daniels and Mayhew)<ref>{{cite web|last=Hall|first=Phil|title=The Bootleg Files: ''The Donny & Marie Show'' – The ''Star Wars'' Episode|url=https://filmthreat.com/features/1546/|work=[[Film Threat]] |access-date=May 20, 2014|date=August 26, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521031217/http://www.filmthreat.com/features/1546/|archive-date=May 21, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> as "television's two most infamous examples."<ref name="DeCaro">{{cite news|last=DeCaro|first=Frank|title=A Space Garbage Man and His Eclectic Crew|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/28/arts/television/28deca.html?_r=0|work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=May 20, 2014|date=December 24, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160717103429/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/28/arts/television/28deca.html?_r=0|archive-date=July 17, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Mel Brooks]]'s ''[[Spaceballs]]'', a satirical comic science-fiction parody, was released in 1987 to mixed reviews.<ref>{{cite web|title=Spaceballs|url=https://metacritic.com/movie/spaceballs|publisher=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=May 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329090328/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/spaceballs|archive-date=March 29, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Lucas permitted Brooks to make a spoof of the film under "one incredibly big restriction: no action figures."<ref>{{cite web|last=Carone|first=Patrick|title=Interview: Icon Mel Brooks|url=http://www.maxim.com/comedians/interview-icon-mel-brooks|work=[[Maxim (magazine)|Maxim]] |access-date=May 22, 2014|date=February 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223135520/http://www.maxim.com/comedians/interview-icon-mel-brooks |archive-date=February 23, 2014}}</ref> In the 1990s and 2000s, animated comedy TV series ''[[Family Guy]]'',<ref>{{cite web|last=Collins|first=Scott|date=December 27, 2009|title=Q & A with Seth MacFarlane|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-dec-27-la-ca-conversation27-2009dec27-story.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304054300/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/dec/27/entertainment/la-ca-conversation27-2009dec27|archive-date=March 4, 2014|access-date=May 20, 2014|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> ''[[Robot Chicken]]'',<ref>{{cite web|last=Snider|first=Mike|date=June 13, 2007|title=''Robot Chicken'' digs its satirical talons into ''Star Wars''|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2007-06-12-robot-chicken_N.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119051422/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2007-06-12-robot-chicken_N.htm|archive-date=November 19, 2012|access-date=May 20, 2014|work=[[USA Today]]|publisher=[[Gannett Company]]}}</ref> and ''[[The Simpsons]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Chernoff|first=Scott|date=July 24, 2007|title=I Bent My Wookiee! Celebrating the Star Wars/Simpsons Connection|website=[[Star Wars|StarWars.com]]|publisher=[[Lucasfilm]]|url=https://www.starwars.com/community/news/media/f20070724/index.html?page=3|access-date=August 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724223022/http://starwars.com/community/news/media/f20070724/index.html?page=3|archive-date=July 24, 2011}}</ref> produced episodes satirizing the film series. A [[Nerdist]] article published in 2021 argues that "''Star Wars'' is the most influential film of all time" partly on the basis that "if all copies{{nbsp}}... suddenly vanished, we could more or less recreate the film{{nbsp}}... using other media," including parodies.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Diaz|first=Eric|date=September 15, 2021|title=There Are Enough A NEW HOPE References to Recreate It, Apparently|url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/enough-hope-references-recreate-apparently-200425482.html|access-date=September 16, 2021|website=Nerdist|language=en-US|via=Yahoo! Life|archive-date=September 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916120131/https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/enough-hope-references-recreate-apparently-200425482.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Many elements of ''Star Wars'' are prominent in popular culture. Darth Vader, Han Solo, and Yoda were all named in the top twenty of the [[British Film Institute]]'s "Best Sci-Fi Characters of All-Time" list.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/news/best-sci-fi-characters-all-time-verdict|title=The Best Sci-Fi Characters of All Time: the verdict|date=December 19, 2014 |publisher=[[British Film Institute]]|access-date=April 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425022437/http://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/news-bfi/announcements/best-sci-fi-characters-all-time-verdict|archive-date=April 25, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The expressions "Evil empire" and "[[May the Force be with you]]" have become part of the popular lexicon.<ref name="CT">{{cite web|last=Caro|first=Mark|title=The power of the dark side|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/chi-0505080390may08-story.html#page=1|work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |access-date=May 20, 2014|date=May 8, 2005|publisher=[[Tribune Publishing]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924062739/http://www.chicagotribune.com/chi-0505080390may08-story.html#page=1|archive-date=September 24, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> A pun on the latter phrase ("May the Fourth") has led to May 4 being regarded by many fans as an unofficial [[Star Wars Day|''Star Wars'' Day]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.starwars.com/may-the-4th|work=StarWars.com |access-date=December 6, 2015|title=May the 4th|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170929131547/http://www.starwars.com/may-the-4th|archive-date = September 29, 2017|url-status = live}}</ref> To commemorate the film's 30th anniversary in May 2007, the [[United States Postal Service]] issued a set of 15 stamps depicting the characters of the franchise. Approximately 400 mailboxes across the country were also designed to look like R2-D2.<ref>{{cite web|title=Two Legendary Forces Unite to Honor 30th Anniversary of ''Star Wars''|url=http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2007/sr07_012.htm|website=usps.com|publisher=[[United States Postal Service]] |access-date=May 20, 2014|date=March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070329033048/http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2007/sr07_012.htm |archive-date=March 29, 2007}}</ref>

''Star Wars'' and Lucas are the subject of the 2010 documentary film ''[[The People vs. George Lucas]]'', which explores filmmaking and fandom as they pertain to the film franchise and its creator.<ref>{{cite news |date=July 9, 2010 |title=''Star Wars'' – When the fans hit the Sith |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/star-wars--when-the-fans-hit-the-sith-2021858.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520220206/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/star-wars--when-the-fans-hit-the-sith-2021858.html |archive-date=May 20, 2014 |access-date=May 20, 2014 |work=[[The Independent]] |publisher=Independent Print Limited}}</ref>

=== Cinematic influence ===
In his book ''[[The Great Movies]]'', Roger Ebert called ''Star Wars'' "a technical watershed" that influenced many subsequent films. It began a new generation of special effects and high-energy motion pictures. The film was one of the first films to link genres together to invent a new, [[high-concept]] genre for filmmakers to build upon.<ref name="Legacy" /> Along with Steven Spielberg's ''Jaws'', it shifted the film industry's focus away from the more personal filmmaking of the 1970s towards fast-paced, big-budget blockbusters for younger audiences.<ref name="Dreams" /><ref name="GreatEbert">{{cite web|work=Chicago Sun-Times|publisher=Sun-Times Media Group|last=Ebert|first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert|date=June 28, 1999|title=Great Movies: Star Wars|url=https://rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-star-wars-episode-iv-a-new-hope-1977 |access-date=October 1, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413113345/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-star-wars-episode-iv-a-new-hope-1977 |archive-date=April 13, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Shone">[[Tom Shone|Shone, Tom]] (2004). ''[[Blockbuster (2004 book)|Blockbuster: How Hollywood Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Summer]]''. London: Simon & Schuster. p. 64. {{ISBN|0-7432-6838-5}}.</ref>

Filmmakers who have been influenced by ''Star Wars'' include [[J. J. Abrams]], [[James Cameron]], [[Dean Devlin]], Gareth Edwards,<ref>{{cite web |author=Hopkins, Jessica |date=February 27, 2011 |title=The film that changed my life: Gareth Edwards |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/feb/27/gareth-edwards-monsters-star-wars |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505015532/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/feb/27/gareth-edwards-monsters-star-wars |archive-date=May 5, 2014 |access-date=May 10, 2014 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> [[Roland Emmerich]], [[David Fincher]], [[Peter Jackson]], [[John Lasseter]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Pond|first=Steve|title=Why Disney Fired John Lasseter&nbsp;– And How He Came Back to Heal the Studio|url=https://thewrap.com/john-lasseter-disney-fired-frozen-healed-studio-oscarwrap-down-wire|work=[[TheWrap]]|publisher=The Wrap News Inc. |access-date=May 10, 2014|date=February 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508200853/http://www.thewrap.com/john-lasseter-disney-fired-frozen-healed-studio-oscarwrap-down-wire|archive-date=May 8, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Damon Lindelof]], [[Christopher Nolan]], [[Ridley Scott]], [[John Singleton]], [[Kevin Smith]],<ref name="Legacy" /> and [[Joss Whedon]]. Lucas's "used future" concept was employed in Scott's ''[[Alien (film)|Alien]]'' (1979) and ''Blade Runner'' (1982); Cameron's ''[[Aliens (film)|Aliens]]'' (1986) and ''[[The Terminator]]'' (1984); and Jackson's [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' trilogy]].<ref name="Legacy" /> Nolan cited ''Star Wars'' as an influence when making ''[[Inception]]'' (2010).<ref>{{cite web|title=Christopher Nolan's Star Wars Inspiration|url=http://hub.contactmusic.com/news/christopher-nolans-star-wars-inspiration_1153625|website=ContactMusic.com|date=July 16, 2010 |access-date=September 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219064444/http://hub.contactmusic.com/news/christopher-nolans-star-wars-inspiration_1153625 |archive-date=December 19, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Some critics have complained that ''Star Wars'', as well as ''Jaws'', "ruined" Hollywood by shifting its focus from "sophisticated" films such as ''[[The Godfather]]'', ''Taxi Driver'', and ''[[Annie Hall]]'' to films about spectacle and juvenile fantasy.<ref name="American">{{cite web|work=Decent Films Guide|author=Greydanus, Steven D.|title=An American Mythology: Why Star Wars Still Matters|url=http://www.decentfilms.com/articles/starwars |access-date=October 1, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206024753/http://www.decentfilms.com/articles/starwars |archive-date=February 6, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> On a 1977 episode of ''[[Sneak Previews]]'', Gene Siskel said he hoped Hollywood would continue to cater to audiences who enjoy "serious pictures".<ref name="SiskelEbert1977">{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gtQck24Nf8&t=259s| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/6gtQck24Nf8| archive-date=December 11, 2021 | url-status=live|title=Siskel and Ebert review Star Wars 1977|date=March 28, 2021|access-date=April 8, 2021|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Peter Biskind]] claimed that Lucas and Spielberg "returned the 1970s audience, grown sophisticated on a diet of European and [[New Hollywood]] films, to the simplicities of the pre-1960s [[Classical Hollywood cinema|Golden Age of movies]]{{nbsp}}... They marched backward through the looking-glass."<ref name="American" /><ref name="Biskind">[[Peter Biskind|Biskind, Peter]] (1998). "Star Bucks". ''Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex-Drugs-and-Rock 'N' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood''. New York: [[Simon & Schuster]]. pp. 336–337, 343. {{ISBN|0-684-80996-6}}.</ref> In contrast, [[Tom Shone]] wrote that through ''Star Wars'' and ''Jaws'', Lucas and Spielberg did not betray cinema, but instead "plugged it back into the grid, returning it{{nbsp}}... to its roots as a carnival sideshow, a magic act, one big special effect", which amounted to "a kind of rebirth."<ref name="Shone" />