Star Wars

Star Wars is an American space opera media franchise created by George Lucas, beginning with the release of the film Star Wars, later retitled Star Wars: Episode IV, A New Hope, in 1977. It has grown across three film trilogies plus stand alone films, television series including The Mandalorian and Andor, novels, comic books and video games, all set in a fictional galaxy and centered on the conflict between the Jedi and the Sith. Lucasfilm, acquired by The Walt Disney Company in 2012, oversees the franchise, whose films alone have grossed more than 10 billion dollars worldwide, making it one of the highest grossing media franchises in history. Star Wars introduced landmark visual effects and sound techniques through Lucas's own companies Industrial Light and Magic and Skywalker Sound, and its imagery, from lightsabers to the phrase May the Force be with you, has become part of global popular culture well beyond its original audience.