Don't underestimate the power of the Force ... or inflation. Box-office analysts predict that in dollar terms, The Force Awakens will be the biggest earning movie with Star Wars in its name. But such measurements almost always fail to account for inflation. In real dollar terms, none of the sequels/prequels have surpassed the original Star Wars (later subtitled Episode IV: A New Hope).
A New Hope was a smash success financially, a bona fide blockbuster in the dawn of the blockbuster era. With cinemas screening the original Star Wars for most of 1977 and 1978, the film garnered $512 million in ticket sales. What's truly incredible about that figure is that movie tickets in 1977 cost just $2.23 on average. That means about 230 million people went to see the film, slightly more than the population of the U.S. at the time.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Thursday December 17 2015, @10:07PM
"That means about 230 million people went to see the film, slightly more than the population of the U.S. at the time."
So, I'm a US citizen, but I watched the movie in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Was I counted? Or, was I counted twice? Also, with the currency exchange at the time, I think the movie ticket only cost me about $1.50. I hope I wasn't counted as a juvenile.
There should be a committee that keeps track of these things.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 17 2015, @11:20PM
I hope I wasn't counted as a juvenile.
newflash, you still are
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Friday December 18 2015, @01:44AM
I think some of what is implied in the 230 million number is that quite a few people went to see it 2, 3, 5, 6, or 15 times - if I remember the hype at the time correctly. I know my family saw it first at a Drive-In and much later in a theater.
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