Have you never watched Star Wars before? Don’t worry! M-Net Movies is here to help with the Star Wars marathon running from 26 September until 1 October on M-Net Movies Showcase, culminating with the seventh film, on Sunday 2 October at 20:05 on M-Net and 20:30 on M-Net Movies Premiere.
Until then, here are five things you need to know to get by in casual pop culture conversation.
1. How many movies are there?
There are seven official live action movies. The first three were released between 1977 and 1983 and are subtitled A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Between 1999 and 2005, three more movies were released; however, these movies are actually prequels, and The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith classify as I, II, and III of the franchise, while the first three are actually IV, V and VI.
2. But you said there were seven movies?
That's right. On 18 December 2015 the seventh chapter, subtitled The Force Awakens, was released. Acclaimed director, writer and producer J.J. Abrams has taken over directing duties from George Lucas. The latter helmed all the previous movies (except for The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi).
3. So it’s seven movies?
No. In addition to these seven amazing movies, there are six animated series, as well as a plethora of novels, comic books, video games and trading cards.
4. What is the significance of May the 4th?
May the 4th is Star Wars Day. It is celebrated by fans across the world on May the 4th. The date was picked because it sounds like a riff on the film’s famous line: “may the force be with you”. If you’re a fan of the dark side, you can celebrate Star Wars on May 5, also known as Revenge of the Fifth. But as any true fan knows, every day is Star Wars Day.
5. It’s a Disney movie? But I thought Disney only did cartoons?
If you think Disney only does animation, then you’re stuck in the 1930s. The Walt Disney Company is behind all the characters we know and love such as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy – as well as so many of the animated classics we grew up with - but they do way more than that. They also own ABC (think Grey’s Anatomy and Revenge), Marvel (think The Avengers and Iron Man) and now Lucasfilm, (think STAR WARS).
Now that you’ve got the lowdown on a galaxy far, far away, you can start sounding like a real Star Wars fundi.