A New Hope and a New Era: When Star Wars Changed Cinema Forever

A New Hope and a New Era: When Star Wars Changed Cinema Forever

On May 25, 1977, American cinemas opened their doors to a film that carried no great stars, no established fanfare, and a title that sounded like a child’s toy. Star Wars premiered quietly in just 32 theatres, and yet crowds quickly formed outside the cinemas.

Reports and recordings confirm that audiences didn’t just watch the film; they clapped, they whooped, they cheered, the kind of ovation usually reserved for an opening night on Broadway.

Within weeks the film had expanded nationwide and become a runaway hit. By the end of the summer it was the year’s biggest success, credited with launching the blockbuster era and transforming movie merchandising.

TIMELINE

May 25, 1977 – An Unlikely Opening Day

  • Star Wars opens in just 32 theatres across the United States.

  • Directed by George Lucas, it arrives with little fanfare and few expectations.

  • Some critics and executives doubt its appeal, but audiences respond with cheers and repeat viewings.

Late May – Word of Mouth Ignites

  • Theatres quickly add extra showings to meet demand.

  • In Los Angeles and San Francisco, fans begin returning to see the film multiple times.

  • The line “May the Force be with you” begins its path from dialogue to cultural catchphrase.

June–July 1977 – Box Office Domination

  • The release expands to hundreds of theatres nationwide.

  • Star Wars overtakes Jaws to become the highest-grossing film in U.S. history, a record it holds until E.T. in 1982.

  • Merchandising takes off: Kenner launches its “Early Bird” empty-box campaign for Christmas, which sells out despite offering only a promise of toys to come.

December 27, 1977 – Star Wars Opens in the UK

  • After months of anticipation, British audiences finally see the film on its official release.

  • Crowds line up around blocks and theatres sell out for weeks.

Reviews note its fairy-tale qualities and mythic echoes, marking it as more than just another science-fiction picture.

THE PRESS AT THE TIME

The headlines made clear: Star Wars was not just another film, it was a sensation.

The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal captured the frenzy in July with its front-page declaration: “America Goes Wild Over Movie ‘Star Wars’.”

The New York Daily News hailed it as “2001 with zip and zap” — praising George Lucas for blending Flash Gordon adventure with modern spectacle.

Even the New York Times devoted space to the phenomenon, with a feature calling C-3PO and R2-D2 “the freshest new film faces of 1977.”

Beyond the reviews, the press charted the cultural shockwave. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported: “‘Star Wars’ Items Sales Skyrocket.”

By December, the Telegraph summed up the toy shortage with its blunt headline: “Production Fails to Meet Heavy Demand for Toy.”

And the Eugene Register-Guard carried the unusual story of a theatre owner refusing to end his screenings while seats were still filled, declaring: “Star Wars to Remain at Theatre.”

LEGACY

Star Wars wasn’t just a hit. It was a phenomenon, merging myth, movie magic, and marketing in a way the world had never seen. It inspired generations of filmmakers, rewired Hollywood economics, and gave us a galaxy that somehow felt like home.

In a time before the internet, before viral trailers, before CGI, Star Wars made people believe again. In adventure. In good and evil. In hope.

A Galaxy in Print

Trace the Star Wars saga as it was first experienced — through over 150 pages of original Los Angeles Times coverage. From Sith and Skywalkers to starships and premieres, relive every moment as the world saw it unfold.




 

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frequently asked questions

Newspaper Books

What are newspaper books?

Each of our Newspaper Books are created with copies of authentic newspapers from specific dates or categories. Each book allows you to choose from various cover colours and designs, and to make it truly special by personalising it with a name and dedication, printed right in the book.

With Newspaper Date books you choose a specific date, for example a birthdate, and we'll create a book containing the front page for the specified date for every subsequent year since. For example, a date of July 13th, 1978, would contain the front page for July 13th for each year forward.

Our History books offer a glimpse into the past, bringing together headlines and articles relating to some of history's most fascinating or iconic events. Choose from Military History, British Royal History, and World Events; each book revisits key events, all through the eyes of the reporters who were there.

If Sports History is more your interest, you can revisit key matches, events, tournaments and races from decades past. Select your favourite team from Football, Hockey, Rugby, and more, and relive every glorious moment through the magic of print.

And, Pop Culture fans won't be left out - get an all access pass and revisit events in Music, Film, & TV. Relive the history of Classic Rock, Star Wars, Taylor Swift, and more, all through newspaper headlines.

Note that each of our Newspaper Books contain true copies of real newspaper content. We don't edit, change, or censor what was originally included in each paper. This means that each book will reflect the true history as it was printed, good or bad.

Personalising Newspaper Books
How does personalisation work?

As you create your Newspaper book, you'll be prompted to personalise it in a few different ways.

First, you'll be able to choose from a selection of cover colours, as well as a cover design. Simply click the options available, and you'll see the image update to match your selection, helping you to choose your favourite.

In addition to the look of your cover, you're also able to add the recipient's name, which will be printed right on the front cover. You can see how this looks in the example images on our website, it appears right next to the words "Presented To"

And finally, a special dedication is printed right inside the book. You can opt to use or add to our pre-written sentiment, or write your very own from scratch.



Does it have to be personalised?

At this time, there isn't any way to create one of our newspaper books without a First Name. It's a request we've shared with our product team, but at the moment don't know when this option might be available.

Please note that anything that is entered into the recipient's name box will print exactly as it's entered. This means that writing 'no personalisation' for example, will result in your book printing with that showing on the cover.

If you prefer not to use a first name, we suggest using a phrase related to your chosen book. For example for writing "A big fan", or using nickname or relationship, such as "My Partner", or simply "You" or "Me"

Original Newspapers
What are Original Newspapers?

Our Original Newspapers are just that - authentic, original papers that were once hot off the press and sold at actual newsstands in the UK and US. Each paper is stored in our archive of over 3 million newspapers, dating back to the early 1900's and featuring 100s of editions.


What can I expect with my paper?

When you purchase one of our original newspapers, our team of archivists will carefully review your paper page by page. Being careful to examine and press each paper flat, they'll also repair any flaws and reinforce the paper as necessary with a special archival repair tape. This work ensures the paper you receive will be strong enough to enjoy for years to come.

Note that as these are real newspapers and not replicas, you'll be holding a piece of treasured history in your hands, one that others may have enjoyed throughout the decades before you. While our team takes care to ensure that each paper is suitable for gifting, due to the nature of newspapers and time itself, there may be minor flaws or imperfections, or signs of age.


I can't find what I'm looking for, do you have more in stock?

To see what options are available, visit our Original Newspapers Page and enter in your desired date. Upon clicking 'search' you'll see any editions available to order, clicking 'select' will allow you to view the price for the paper you've selected, as well as various gift box options available. Newspapers are priced based on age, rarity, and special historic events, and can vary between editions.

Please note that every newspaper within our archive is catalogued and listed. If no results appear or the edition you were hoping to see is not listed, and the date you've entered is more than 2 weeks ago, we unfortunately do not have any items in stock, and are not likely to receive more at a future time.

Gifting
Can I send a gift directly to the recipient

Yes indeed! Both our Newspaper Books and Our Original Newspapers make incredible gifts for the special people in your life.

While placing your order you'll have the option to add a special gift box, which your item will be carefully placed inside prior to packaging and shipping.


For our Newspaper Books, you can also include a special dedication which will be printed directly in the book you've created - free of charge.


During checkout, you'll be able to enter in the recipient's shipping address, separately from your billing one. And, we never include any pricing or invoices within the parcels themselves, so the recipient won't see those details at all.


Note that at this time we're unable to include any gift notes or separate gift messages within the orders.

Placing an Order

Add content here...What happens when I place an order?

Once your order has been placed, the details are immediately sent to our workshops for processing.

If you've ordered an Original Newspaper, our team of Archivists in our warehouse located in Western Scotland will carefully pick, examine, prepare, and package your order.


If you've ordered a Newspaper Book, details for your customised book will be sent directly to our Printhouse located in the United Kingdom, where an automated printing process will print, trim, bind, and cure you book before it is carefully packaging it for shipping.

Note that as our orders are processed very soon after they're received, we are not able to make any changes or amendments, or cancel any orders.

Returns, Cancellation, and Edit Policies

Due to the automated nature of our order processing, we're unable to make changes or amendments to an order once it's been completed, nor are we able to cancel orders once after they've been placed.

For information about our Returns Policy, please visit this link >> HERE