More Movie Anniversaries of Note

Yes, May is a big month for Star Wars fans. Today, 32 and 26 years ago respectively, Star Wars - Episodes IV and VI were released. Both were, and still are, box office successes. Throughout its many releases, Star Wars - Episode IV: A New Hope (originally just Star Wars) has grossed $775,398,007 worldwide. The film also won six Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, a Golden Globe, and a Grammy. The film is routinely cited as one of the best movies ever. There is a glut of top or best movie lists out there but some of the most prestigious, like the American Film Institute's, give A New Hope mad props.

Star Wars on AFI Lists

• Top Movies - #15 (original list from 1998)
  
• Top Thrills - #27
• Top Heroes and Villains - #3 (villain: Darth Vader), #14 (hero: Han Solo), #37 (hero: Obi-Wan Kenobi)
• Top Movie Quotes - #8 ("May the Force be with you.")
• Top Film Scores - #1
• Top Cheers (Most Inspiring) - #39
• Top Movies - #13 (10th year anniversary list, released in 2008)
• 10 Top 10 - Sci-Fi #2
  

It's second sequel, 1983's Return of the Jedi, has earned $475,106,177 to date. Though it isn't considered on par with A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back, ROTJ usually is a favorite among the kids. And it does end the original trilogy. That has to count for something.

In other related news, yesterday was the 20th Anniversary of the release of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The Indiana Jones movies rate up there with Star Wars to me; I wouldn't turn down watching one of them, ever. Last night after a rugged game of wiffle ball, I asked Kelly what movie she wanted to watch. She didn't have any suggestions so I said Indiana Jones. I meant Raiders of the Lost Ark but her favorite is The Last Crusade. Guess which one we watched? As we turned The Last Crusade on I went to look up some Wikipedia facts on the film, as I do for basically every movie we watch. That's when I noticed that we were watching it on the 20th Anniversary of the films release. Completely unintentional but cool nonetheless.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is now 20!