Box-office numbers: The Force is strong with ‘Star Wars’ and has been for 38 years

A new “Star Wars� trilogy is destined for theaters after Disney announced Oct. 30, 2012, that it was buying Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion. The first six films in the “Star Wars� franchise have raked in more than $4.3 billion worldwide.

Here’s a look at how each of the episodes fared at the box office.

FULL COVERAGE: ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’

“Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope� (1977)

Domestic box office: $460,998,007

Worldwide box office: $775,398,007

As soon as “Star Wars� thundered into theaters on May 25, 1977, it was clear the film was a force to be reckoned with.

“On opening day ... in the afternoon I did a radio call-in show in Washington and this guy, this caller, was really enthusiastic and talking about the movie in really deep detail,� Gary Kurtz, the producer of “Star Wars,� said. “I said, ‘You know a lot abut the film.’ He said, ‘Yeah, yeah, I’ve seen it four times already.’ And that was opening day. I knew something was happening.�

The original trilogy was re-released in theaters in 1997 to commemorate the franchise’s 20th anniversary. These “Special Edition� releases featured controversial digital alterations to the original series.

“Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back� (1980)

Domestic box office: $290,475,067

Worldwide box office: $538,375,067

“The Empire Strikes Back� is perhaps the most critically revered film in the “Star Wars� franchise, but Irvin Kershner, the movie’s director, nearly didn’t take the job.

“I didn’t want to follow a picture like ‘Star Wars,’ because what could I do that was different?� Kershner said. “But George [Lucas] said, ‘I want to make a picture that is better than the first one. Because if the second one is not successful, that kills the whole series.’ ... I really knocked myself out. I was able to go deeper into the characterization. I was doing the second act of a three-act play, or the second movement of a symphony. That’s always the slower movement. I could not have a grand climax, I had to leave things ambiguous. My big climax came at the beginning of the film, with the battle in the snow, then I told the story of the people.�

“Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi� (1983)

Domestic box office: $309,306,177

Worldwide box office: $475,106,177

Six years after “Star Wars� made its debut, the original series came to a close with “Return of the Jedi.� For Lucas, it was a welcome ending.

“There hasn’t really been one day in the last 10 years that I haven’t had to wake up in the morning and say, ‘God, I’ve got to worry about this movie,’� Lucas said at the time. “Now I feel as if this huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.... If I had to do it all over again, I’d have to think about it, especially if I knew what I was going to have to give up in order to get it.�

“Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace� (1999)

Domestic box office: $474,544,677

Worldwide box office: $1,027,044,677

Sixteen years after the original trilogy wrapped up, “The Phantom Menace� hit theaters, beginning a prequel trilogy and introducing new characters into the “Star Wars� universe, including Darth Maul and the much-maligned Jar Jar Binks. Despite the criticism, “Phantom Menace� struck box-office gold, the only “Star Wars� film to break the billion-dollar barrier. The film’s theatrical release also marked the first time a fully digital movie was shown to the public.

The film was re-released in 3-D in 2012.

“Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones� (2002)

Domestic box office: $310,676,740

Worldwide box office: $649,398,328

Anakin Skywalker’s transformation from a precocious, pod-racing kid to the ultimate villain Darth Vader continued in 2002’s “Attack of the Clones,� in which Hayden Christensen portrayed the sullen young Jedi, and Natalie Portman played his love, Padme.

“Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith� (2005)

Domestic box office: $380,270,577

Worldwide box office: $848,754,768

Lucas wrapped up the prequel trilogy with “Revenge of the Sith,� which hit theaters 28 years after the original “Star Wars.� The film was the first in the franchise to receive a PG-13 rating and featured several intensely violent scenes as Anakin turns to the Dark Side.

“I had to turn him into a monster,� Lucas said at the time. “It’s a tough story. You can’t make a guy evil without having him do evil things.�

Once again, Lucas said he felt relief to be finished with the trilogy.

“‘Star Wars’ isn’t going to suddenly disappear from my life, but I’m not going to be doing it on a day-to-day basis,� he said. “I’m going to be in my own little world doing my own stuff, but it doesn’t disappear from my reality at all. It never will.�