The Force Awakens Changed Cinema History 9 Years Ago

Looking back:

• The hype leading up to The Force Awakens was unlike anything the fandom had ever seen before.

• Pictures of the cast during a read through went viral on social media, and the panel at Star Wars Celebration was watched by countless fans around the globe.

• Despite the mixed reaction to Lucas's Prequel Trilogy, fans came out in droves to see Episode VII on opening night to the tune of almost $250 million (the highest at the time, later broken by Avengers: Endgame).

• The film grossed over $2 billion and received a 93% Rotten Tomatoes score, second only to The Empire Strikes Back.

Why it matters:

• The Force Awakens financially and socially signaled that the worldwide moviegoing audience was ready for more Star Wars.

• Rey, Finn, Kylo Ren, and Poe immediately became household names just as Han, Luke, Leia, and Vader had before them.

• The record-breaking success of The Force Awakens allowed Disney to continue investing in the franchise at a massive level.

• By combining new characters with legacy characters like Han and Leia, the film began to pass the baton to new actors and characters that had direct connections to the heroes that began the franchise.

Looking ahead:

• Storylines that began in The Force Awakens have spawned multiple books, comics, movies, TV shows, and more.

• Daisy Ridley’s starring role as Rey not only allowed her to cultivate a successful Hollywood career, but will also result in her return to the franchise in at least one upcoming film.

The Force Awakens was a landmark moment in the history of Star Wars and proved that the next generation was ready for their own chapter of the Skywalker Saga. As we look towards a decade of celebrating Episode VII, it cannot be denied that the success of the film is directly responsible for the Star Wars universe we get to experience today.