The Wayfinder

By Peyton Schultze

There’s certainly an endless list of factors that makes Star Wars so well-known around the world, from its Shakespearean plot to its memorable quotes (via The Mary Sue).

Since debuting on Hollywood Boulevard at the Chinese Theater back in May of ‘77, Star Wars has become a global phenomenon and arguably the most popular film franchise of all-time. Taking audiences into a galaxy far, far away with adventurous heroes such as Princess Leia, Han Solo, and Luke Skywalker in their fight against the evil Empire, Star Wars has captured the imagination of those young and old in the 40 plus years since its original release. And from Return of the Jedi to The Phantom Menace, and from Rogue One to The Rise of Skywalker, there’s certainly no shortage of memorable moments, stunning musical scores, and lovable characters among all of the eleven films released. So without further ado, and in celebration of the universal Star Wars day known as May the Fourth, here are ten things that separates Star Wars from other films found throughout American pop culture.

10. The John Williams’ Scores in All Nine Episodes

John Williams’ chilling, individual scores for characters such as Darth Vader and Palpatine have produced many memorable moments in Star Wars lore (via Wookieepedia).

Of course, the iconic composer has produced several other masterpieces in cinematic musical composition such as Jaws, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, and Raiders of the Lost Ark, but Star Wars will unquestionably always be his most recognizable work of art. From the original film to The Rise of Skywalker, the famous composer has been along for the ride the whole way in each of the nine episodes, producing well-known scores such as Darth Vader’s imposing “Imperial March”, the suspenseful, yet epic “Duel of the Fates”, and the mysterious theme for the hero of the sequel trilogy in “Rey’s Theme”. Along the way, he’s basically sealed his legacy as the greatest composer in the history of film and totaled the second most nominations in the history of the Academy Awards, only trailing behind Walt Disney. Write him down as the greatest ever in his field, and Star Wars would not be the same without his triumphant scores holding the audience together for all this time.

9. The Toy Sensation

Bounty Hunter Boba Fett is certainly one of the best-selling toys among many in the vast Star Wars collection (via StarWars.com).

Possibly one of the major factors that transformed Star Wars from a simple film into a multi-million dollar media empire, toys have been at the core of the saga since it release. From collectible action figures to valuable pieces of merchandise, many kids grew up idolizing some kind of Star Wars toy that had the ability to let the imagination run wild. And from Boba Fett to Lando Calrissian, and from C-3PO to BB-8, the impact of toys in the Star Wars universe is nearly immeasurable. It’s just one small detail in a larger picture, but it is surely something that can’t be thrown to the side due to its wide-ranging impact that spans across generations.

8. Perhaps the Greatest Villain of All-Time

With a jet black costume, his iconic breathing, and some of the most rich background of any film character ever, Darth Vader remains as memorable of a villain as any in history (via StarWars.com).

There’s been plenty of notorious villains filling up the silver screen for the past 100 years, from Heath Ledger’s Joker to Anthony Hopkins’ Hannibal Lecter, but perhaps no other evildoer has wowed audience to the likes of Darth Vader. Before Anakin Skywalker’s detailed journey to the Dark Side was shown over the course of the prequel trilogy, Vader loomed over the original films in an intimidating fashion that has rarely been seen before. From the iconic costume to his recognizable breathing, and from his bright red lightsaber to his redemption at the end of Return of the Jedi, Vader may be one of the most complex and fascinating villains to ever grace the screen. Who knows how much more is in store for the Sith Lord in the future of the franchise, but Darth Vader certainly stands out as one of the best parts of the entire saga to this point.

7. The Rise of a Global Theme Park Presence

The immersive experience at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in both North American Disney resorts is an intergalactic delight for all fans of the franchise (via easy WDW).

As one of the most significant theme park developments in recent years, the addition of Star Wars property to Disney Parks has been a true sight to see. And by making the adventure of Star Wars a possibility in real life, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios gives every fan a shot at creating their own memory with plenty of fun moments along the way. And from flying the Millennium Falcon to escaping the clutches of the First Order, there’s no shortage of action-packed intensity with every step on the planet of Batuu. This is the Star Wars experience of a lifetime, and makes every journey to the land feel like you are a key member of the universe who could swing the fight between good and evil in either direction.

6. Distant Planets and Ships Alike

The snowy Battle of Hoth is one of the most action-packed moments found in the original trilogy of films (via Wookieepedia).

Just like every character in the films, every member of the audience tends to have their favorite ship that is being flown around throughout the galaxy. There’s TIE Fighters, and X-Wings, or Star Destroyers and Space Cruisers. And of course, there’s always the notorious Millennium Falcon, which has almost become a character in itself over the many years since it first set sail for Alderaan in 1977. And in addition to this, of course, there’s plenty of memorable planets that have wowed audience over the years, from the sunny shores of Scarif to the gigantic trees hovering among Endor to the peaceful beauty of Naboo. The potential destinations around the galaxy and the things that characters seem to find there are endless, which makes Star Wars an unstoppable machine that seems to constantly churn out new ideas to excite audiences.

5. The Epic Lightsaber Duels

The final battle between Anakin and Obi-Wan at the end of Revenge of the Sith is some of the best action found at any point in the series (via Byzantium’s Shores).

Star Wars has plenty of awesome moments that involve little to no action, but honesty is still somewhat required: some of the lightsaber fights in the saga are some of the best action-packed moments in any film to have ever existed. From the climatic battle between Anakin and Obi-Wan at the end of Revenge of the Sith to the snowy battle of Starkiller Base between Rey and Kylo Ren in The Force Awakens, lightsaber duels are must-watch film when played to the sound of John Williams’ scores. Lightsabers have become an instantly recognizable pop culture prop in the present-day, and they’re one of the coolest features found anywhere in Star Wars.

4. The Mystery of the Force

Several characters, such as Rey and Luke Skywalker, have a unique relationship with the Light and Dark sides of the Force that creates some significant complications (via Digital Spy).

“Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me…” Yoda’s wise words from The Empire Strikes Back directly speak to the mysterious powers of the Force, which has brought together the entire universe since its debut in 1977. From blowing up the Death Star with a single shot to the ability to move things with your mind, the Force stands out as an interesting puzzle that is constantly attempting to be solved. For something without a clear definition that not every character is able to posses, the Force is a powerful and enlightening tool in all areas of the franchise that every audience member likely wishes they had at some point in their own lives.

3. The Evolution into the Present-Day

The Mandalorian was a smash-hit on Disney+ in its first season, which has brought plenty of excitement to fans around the world (via GamesRadar).

Star Wars could have just ended with the original three films once the Rebellion was able to overthrow the Empire, but it has instead transformed itself in the present-day with constant additions. With six additional episodes films, a surplus of video games, and several unique TV shows debuting over the years, the franchise has evolved over time to provide additional content to fans around the world. Today, Star Wars: The Clone Wars and The Mandalorian remain a major hit among fans, while spin-off movies such as Rogue One and Solo: A Star Wars Story have mostly been a hit among audiences. Now, as Lucasfilm prepares to push even further into the future with even more TV series on Disney+ such as spin-offs related to Obi-Wan Kenobi and Cassian Andor, the future of Star Wars remains an exciting proposition with an unlimited amount of possibilities.

2. Rebellion, Temptation, Family, and Hope

The cliffhanger ending to The Empire Strikes Back is certainly one of the most quoted and suspenseful endings of all-time (via Pinterest).

There’s many central themes that roam among each film in the franchise, each of which relate to humanity on a very personal level. From the scrappy ability to rebel against oppression to the overpowering temptation to not always do the right thing, several themes loom larger than life in Star Wars and force characters to face extreme circumstance with potential effects for the future. Even with that being said, family and hope remain two of the most prevalent ideas in this distant galaxy, which appears to be more Americanized than anything that people on the planets of Coruscant or Bespin may preach. Even though it claims to have taken place a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, Star Wars hits closer to home than almost any other franchise before it, which has helped generate thousands of new ideas for the universe each year.

1. Some of the Greatest Characters in Cinematic History

Han Solo, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, and Chewbacca remain some of the most popular and recognizable characters in the history of film (via Sci-Fi Addicts).

Star Wars would not be what it is today without some of the most memorable characters to have ever graced the screen, which speaks to the mind of George Lucas’ original invention. From the might and independence of Princess Leia to the swaggering bravo of Han Solo, there are so many characters that have found a way to speak toward audiences around the globe. Maybe your personal favorite is Darth Maul due to his awesome Dark Side features and sweet lightsaber. Maybe it’s Yoda due to his unique speech format and captivating mentorship. Maybe it’s even R2-D2 due to his ability to let audience feel his emotions without a single word ever being pronounced for audiences to understand. Whether you’re most like Luke Skywalker or Darth Vader, everyone has a character that they can relate to in the universe, which goes to show that the world may not be just as big as it once seemed even in a galaxy far, far away.