Relax today. Forget for a day the bank loan, the car lease, the apartment rent, the miserable salary or pension, the fees, taxes and contributions that will increase from 2025 and, of course, forget the gloomy prophecies about pandemics, ecological catastrophes , wars and obesity.
Most importantly, today, May 4, forget about the election campaign for a day.
On May 4, as a result of a pun on the English language, fans all over the world celebrate Star Wars Day, celebrating the sci-fi cult phenomenon that is approaching its half-centennial and continues to hold the hearts of generation after generation.
Star Wars, the galactic heroic battle between light and dark, is more than a stunning cinematic feat of special effects, more than a saga with intricate plots and twists, and more than a series full of adventures and lessons designed to inspire all generations. Star Wars is a formidable business, with the films having grossed nearly $11 billion from the release of “A New Hope” in 1977 through 2022, surpassed only by the Marvel universe – which by the way has more films.
It is not only about the 9 films, 6 spin-offs and the multitude of artistic or animated series, but also about a vertical and horizontal industry of almost 50 billion dollars since its release. In addition to the films and series, the revenue is rounded out by an abundance of products sold under the Star Wars brand, toys, books, video games, television, streaming services and, of course, Lego sets, which have propelled the Danish company’s sales for the past five years – by the way, this year a team of Romanians entered the Guinness Book of Records for the construction of the largest Lego Star Wars diorama, spread over an area of over 45 square meters.
Adding to Star Wars’ almost 50-year legacy are many memorable lines that are used symbolically almost every day, the most famous being the iconic “May the Force be with you!”.
The Star Wars franchise was sold in 2012 for 4 billion dollars, joining Disney’s movie, magic & more universe, an entertainment empire worth a third of Romania’s GDP. After the acquisition, the Disney empire became number one in the world and managed to surpass in the rankings (don’t laugh) the Pokemon empire.
For the 10-year-olds who saw “A New Hope” in 1977, but also for all other kids between 10 and 57 years old, ardent fans of the Star Wars universe, the story will continue with films and artistic and animated series. And the business behind the Star Wars universe remains one of the biggest successes of the American entertainment industry.
So this May 4th, kick back for a day and have fun with the “May the Force Be With You” vs “May the 4th Be With You!” pun. Eventually, if you have the funding, start assembling a Venator-Class attack cruiser, an experience like no other. Or, if you have time, re-watch one of the Star Wars movies, I recommend the spin-off Rogue One, with a Darth Vader in a brief appearance but at his best and a Jyn Erso reminding us that rebellions I build on hope.
___
Comment by Dragoș Damian, general director of Terapia Cluj and executive director of PRIMER (Patronatul Producătorilor Industriali de Medicamenti din Romania
