Star Wars B Wing

STAR WARS Award Ribbon - 1 pc.

Star Wars Collectables: Merchandising History

Stars Wars - A History of Merchandise
By Sherrie Jones

The Stars Wars saga began over 30 years ago when George Lucas released the first film - A New Hope in 1977 and it has been a roller coaster of success ever since, despite the fact that George Lucas was expecting the film to flop when it debuted on the big screen and by 2005 the franchise had amassed over a staggering 20 million after six major films and countless merchandise lines.

The films have made a huge impact on people's lives and but the fascination doesn't end there and many Star Wars fans have been buying merchandise throughout the last thirty years. Kenner has produced a massive range of Star Wars figures and play sets since the late 1970's which has been on many children's wish-list and kept them entertained ever since, with updated lines and new products. These toys have become more than just things to play with and many people who have grown up with the phenomenon that Stars Wars have become avid collectors of the merchandise, especially the rare older toys and special edition products.

There have been many other products and not just toys that have carried the Stars Wars name and it seems wherever you go you just cannot escape the success of this merchandise. There have been countless products released such as, tooth brushes, curtains, slippers, watches, alarm clocks and much, much more.

Not long after the Return of the Jedi was released, the marketing machine did seem to slow down significantly and for a few years the Stars Wars toys almost disappeared out of existence. This changed dramatically by the late 1990's when the original trilogy was re-released at the cinemas, with additional scenes and updated special effects. With this came the "The Power of the Force" range of toys which reignited the passion for Stars Wars and resulted in a new wave of collectors and since then, 3 three more blockbuster films have been released and with TV shows, animated films and countless video game titles released it seems that the Force will be with George Lucas for the foreseeable future.

Sherrie is a part-time columnist occasional pieces on Stars Wars and other film merchandise lines, whilst working for Forbidden Planet.

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