The Most Important Dates In Star Wars History

Star Wars is one of the most iconic movie franchises in history. And 50 years after its founding in 1973, it’s showing no signs of slowing down.

Star Wars has seen more than its fair share of landmark dates over its half-century of existence, and below, we have outlined 17 of them, from the series’ founding to its most recent announcements.

So, if you are wondering when Star Wars’ most important dates occurred, look no further.

1 – May 1973: George Lucas Strikes a Deal With 20th Century Fox

Every great saga has its starting point, and for Star Wars, we can consider that the iconic trilogy kicked off in May 1973 when George Lucas negotiated a landmark deal with 20th Century Fox.

The deal let Lucas keep merchandising rights for the franchise, and he was also allowed to keep a good deal of creative control. Lucas wouldn’t give up such control until Disney acquired the rights over 39 years later in 2012.

2 – May 1974: Industrial Light and Magic Founded

A space opera like Star Wars demanded the best effects 1970s technology offered, and Lucas took it upon himself to build a team capable of bringing the new franchise to life.

They started their work in an old warehouse, but by the time Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) proved their worth, they were winning countless awards.

3 – May 25th, 1977: Star Wars Debuts

After nearly a half-decade of anticipation, Star Wars debuted in theaters and became an immediate hit. Ironically enough, there was a lot of uncertainty regarding the film, with many unsure whether the now-iconic film would flop before it even got off the ground.

4 – May 21st, 1980: The Empire Strikes Back Released

Before The Empire Strikes Back hit theaters, it went through quite a turbulent production run. First, George Lucas wanted to fund the flick, but he needed eventual help from 20th Century Fox. Lucas also had to make contingency plans after Leigh Brackett died during the production.

Despite the setbacks, The Empire Strikes Back debuted and, like its predecessor, became a commercial success.

5 – September 1982: Star Wars Debuts on VHS

Today, we can stream just about any movie we want with the push of a button. But before the advent of VHS, you could only watch your favorite Star Wars flicks if they were on TV or if the local movie theater was hosting a re-release.

When Star Wars debuted on VHS, fans could finally watch their favorite space opera films as often as they wanted.

6 – May 25th, 1983: Return of the Jedi Released

Thanks to the success of Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi debuted in theaters. It seemed as though the series would end and Lucas would move to other projects.

We now know that was far from the case, and 16 years later, Lucas would further capitalize on Return of the Jedi’s success.

7 – January 31st, 1997: Star Wars: Special Edition Released

Two years before the series returned with new storylines, the Original Trilogy got a facelift thanks to the new visual and special effects technology the 1990s brought.

8 – May 19th, 1999: The Phantom Menace Released

After a 16-year hiatus, a new Star Wars film finally debuted in theaters. While there was a 16 year gap between The Phantom Menace and Return of the Jedi, Lucas was talking about plans regarding a potential prequel trilogy as early as December 1975.

9 – May 16th, 2002: Attack of the Clones Released

The Prequel Trilogy continued when Attack of the Clones hit theaters. Fans finally got to see how the Clone Wars kicked off, something that was mentioned briefly in Star Wars, which by this time was known as A New Hope.

They also got their first look over the origins of the notorious Death Star.

10 – May 19th, 2005: Revenge of the Sith Released

When Revenge of the Sith hit theaters, we once again believed the saga was complete, as it was now apparent how Palpatine became the Emperor and how Anakin Skywalker transformed into the notorious Darth Vader.

Fans also saw how Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa were separated shortly after their birth.

11 – October 30th, 2012: Sequel Trilogy Announced

Fans had gone seven years without seeing a new Star Wars film grace the big screen. But that changed when George Lucas sold Lucasfilm to Disney. The network later announced Episodes VII, VIII, and IX would occur and include an array of new and returning characters.

12 – December 15th, 2015: The Force Awakens Released

After three years of hype, The Force Awakens hit theaters. Mixed reviews followed the film, with those who enjoyed it loving the return of some of the saga’s original characters. Others were quick to point out parallels between the movie and A New Hope.

13 – December 16th, 2016: Rogue One Released

Something that stood out regarding Rogue One was the fact that it belonged to none of the trilogies. Instead, it took place shortly before A New Hope, serving as a prequel to the iconic film.

14 – December 15th, 2017: The Last Jedi Released

Two years after The Force Awakens’ release, The Last Jedi hit the box office. Like its predecessor, the film also generated mixed reviews, with many critics pointing out flaws in Luke Skywalker’s character.

15 – November 12th, 2019: The Mandalorian Debuts

While the Sequel Trilogy went through major ups and downs in reception, The Mandalorian shifted the narrative, receiving generally positive ratings since its landmark debut in November 2019.

This set the stage for opening the Star Wars franchise to far more than the Skywalker Saga, and The Mandalorian continues to to enjoy success at the time of this writing.

16 – December 20th, 2019: The Rise of Skywalker Released

The Sequel Trilogy reached its conclusion in December 2019. Rey faced and defeated Palpatine for good, before she adopted the name Skywalker and set off to continue her journeys.

17 – May 2023: New Star Wars Trilogy Announced

And finally, in 2023, we found out that there will be another trio of Star Wars films to look forward to. We don’t know much about these upcoming films, except that Daisy Ridley will reprise her role as Rey and the trilogy will touch on the origins of the Jedi.

Sion Fawkes

Sion Fawkes has been covering Star Wars since January 2022, expanding his expertise in Star Wars Canon, Legends, and MCU. When not writing, you can find Sion in the gym or running trails. He also likes watching sports and listening to audiobooks.