Once a franchise that instilled amazement, wonder, and awe into generations; Star Wars really was something magical when George Lucas unleashed his creation upon the world.
Sadly, it was the start of a franchise decline on a galactic scale.
The Death of Star Wars
A humble little science fiction movie costing $11 million dollars started a franchise that has been expanding exponentially since 1977. Fast forward to 2018 and the Star Wars franchise was worth $65 billion.
In 2018 Star Wars was the 5th highest-grossing media franchise of all time.
Although I struggled to find updated figures over the last two years I can only imagine that number is even higher! Especially with the introduction of Galaxy’s Edge, a Star Wars theme park based at Disneyland Park, California.
After Star Wars landed it spawned two sequels, The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and The Return of the Jedi (1983). Two superb films that set the benchmark not only for Star Wars but filmmaking as a whole.
These three original films set off a series of cataclysmic events that would launch Star Wars into the stratosphere.
A film where the cast members became global superstars overnight and store shelves were stacked with Star Wars merchandise as far as the eye could see.
From themed toys, games and books the fans always wanted more. Star Wars fandom was calling out for more movies and George Lucas delivered.
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace released in 1999 was a prequel to the original three. Part of a trilogy that would initiate the slow decline of a once treasured franchise.
The Decline Begins
In Star Wars: The Phantom Menance, we learn how one Anakin Skywalker grew up. Whilst we got to see an origins story of a future sith lord the film was met with a mixed reception.
George Lucas had made a Star Wars film that fell way short compared to the previous three.
Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (2002) dropped the bar even lower with core characters we couldn’t care less about. No mention of Luke, Han Or Leia annoyed fans. There was no sense of purpose or direction in this sloppy feature.
Jar Jar Binks was one character that got the most abuse. Fandom started to become toxic the second the first of these prequels released.
What was a community of nerdy sci-fi loving fans was now an abusive, online troll filled community directing hate at cast members and filmmakers.
Toxicity became so bad that Jar Jar Binks actor Ahmed Best considered suicide after the barrage of abuse being directed at him.
Nothing changed with another poor third and final sequel installment in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (2005). An incredible lightsaber battle between a now evil Anakin and Obi-Wan Kenobi couldn’t save this overall lackluster feature.
When all hope was lost in ever witnessing a good Star Wars movie again the news came that Disney was set to buy the Star Wars franchise. In what came as very unusual news to fans but it also restored a mindset of hope and direction.
The first movie announced under the Disney Label sparked fan excitement once again. Star Wars: The Force Awakens was released in theatres in December of 2015.
The Disney Era
Containing fresh-faced new actors in a world we all recognized The Force Awakens (similar to the previous) was financially successful but met with extreme criticism. Key characters from the good old days were downgraded to babysitting duties and the story arc was an exact replica of A New Hope.
Star Wars fans are always quick to dig deep into the layers of the Star Wars universe. Failing to understand its just a movie dedicated fans will transcribe Wookie and deconstruct scenes down to their smallest detail.
Why did a novice beat a sith in combat without training? How can Rey fly the ship just as good as Han in her first flight of an airship?
Because, it’s a movie, guys. That’s why. Albeit a sloppy movie aimed for a quick cash grab.
This lack of originality mixed with questionable direction raised eyebrows. The franchise now included a cast we couldn’t relate to or care about.
Toxic fandom bubbled once again. Not even a Disney takeover could stop the slow deterioration of a franchise, not financially of course, but in quality, heart and purpose.
At this point, cast members old and new were constantly defending themselves. Director JJ Abrams was on a mission to justify the originality of his movie but in all fairness, he wasn’t fooling anybody.
“Let’s go back to a Star Wars that we know, so we can tell another story” – JJ.Abrams on The Force Awakens
When the next installment titled The Last Jedi (2017) was released we said goodbye to Luke Skywalker. Fans couldn’t understand why there was some sort of Jedi, sith love story hinted between Kylo Ren and Rey. Distracted by nonsense they only went and killed off a legend.
If you click that little blue link you’ll see a 4.5/5 star review of The Last Jedi from our very own Frank Mengarelli. Whilst I personally hated the film there are people out there that genuinely enjoy it. Yes, really.
Director Rian Johnson found himself at the mercy of fans and critics alike getting an absolute panning. Ten times worse than JJ Abrams before him.
Rian stood up for himself (and his cast members who were also getting abuse) on social media and attacked the fans with consequence.
Troll culture was rife and the Disney launch was as horrifically received as the George Lucas prequels that came before it.
Fans were up in arms that Rian Johnson had killed off such an iconic character. It sure was a punch to the gut installment that disgraced the original movies.
Hanging onto nostalgia and trying to thread some sort of coherent Star Wars film together from this opening Disney disaster another film was due. The Rise of Skywalker was penned for a 2019 release.
The final installment of Rey’s story and another movie that fans STILL got excited with some false sense of optimism, hoping and praying that Disney could at least get one film right. They couldn’t.
The Fall of Star Wars
The Rise of Skywalker was once again hammered with poor reviews as we did get Rey’s character arc wrapped up but at the cost of every other character. No other character arc (minus Kylo Ren) in the entire film is explained.
The final installment of these characters and their stories went untold. Finn and Poe Dameron have been core members of this new Disney direction and they were left floating in space when it came to tying up their story.
A film that lacked any story depth, heart and with many actors just in there for a paycheque rather than a passion for the project.
The Rise of Skywalker put the final nail into a coffin that’s been lowering in heart, quality, and passion since 1999.
For many who have grown up with the Star Wars saga, many are in agreement with its sheer decline. Rather than a roller coaster, it’s been more of a vertical drop.
Rogue One was a simplistic spin-off but for a brief second, there was a small upturn in quality until we plummeted back down once again.
Star Wars was gliding along majestically until Disney came along and nuked the franchise into the ground. Dollar bills were rolling. Star Wars fans are some of the most loyal in the world and despite awful products, nostalgia burns brightly.
Nostalgia sells tickets, merchandise and nostalgia keeps us going back for more (myself included).
Enter The Mandalorian
Finally, in 2019, nostalgia came in the form of a visual Star Wars product. A product that felt as thou it had been plucked straight out of the late ’70s/’80s and that show was called The Mandalorian.
Whilst I don’t claim to know all there is to know about The Mandalorian it doesn’t take much to realise how different this show is. Another level, another class entirely from its recent predecessors.
A simple story about a bounty hunter on a new assignment who can’t bring himself to kill the intended target. He instead cares for the creature at the risk of being disowned by his own people and hunted himself.
The series follows various encounters and situations as our Mandalorian is on the run with his now-iconic sidekick.
An exploration into the world of bounty hunters. Where characters aren’t stuffed in for nostalgia’s sake, they’re in their own world naturally. Everything evolves organically in this beautifully constructed fan service.
You could almost hear the sighs of relief when that first episode credits rolled. Disney (for once) didn’t screw up a Star Wars product. In fact, The Mandalorian may have saved an entire franchise.
Creating not only a wonderful sense of class and maturity but birthing a new viral sensation. Baby Yoda.
This fuzzy little creature who we’d all seen grown up in the George Lucas prequels captured our hearts. Merchandise rolled out in quick succession as this little creature made us laugh, cry and go “aww” every single time he appeared on the screen.
There’s now even a life-size Baby Yoda you can purchase if you fancy adopting one!
The Mandalorian Resurrection of Star Wars
A franchise that after 40 years was hitting a brick wall. Especially with a new trilogy originally planned to be helmed by Rian Johnson getting thrown in the trash immediately; Star Wars looked all but dead in the water.
The Mandalorian, A series that took the franchise back to basics and delivered with quality, laughs, and heart. A heart long lost since the money train started taking priority over genuine storytelling.
With Season one getting rave reviews and a new icon born in Baby Yoda it’s no wonder a Season 2 is already in the works.
So whist over the last 40 years fans have seen the slow excruciating death of Star Wars, it’s safe to say The Mandalorian has breathed much-needed life into the franchise. There’s still fight in the old dog yet.
With rumors of George Lucas returning to the franchise once again the future looks bright. The prequels weren’t great by any means but they were a hell of a lot better than Disney’s slate.
Written by Sean Evans
