Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Director Steven Spielberg has delivered many blockbusters, and has touched many lives with his art. The filmmaker is known for extremely personal films on a blockbuster scale, with films such asJaws, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, andJurassic Parkbeing some of his most acclaimed films. He has also won the Oscar twice forSchindler’s ListandSaving Private Ryan.
While Spielberg has been known for his blockbusters, he was also reportedly clairvoyant in predicting the cultural phenomenon that George Lucas’Star Warswas going to be. TheIndiana Jonesfilmmaker reportedly believed in the legendary space opera’s success even more than Lucas himself, who only believed that it was a hit after the first weekend.
Steven Spielberg Was The Only One Who Believed InStar Wars
George Lucas’Star Warsbecame a pop cultural phenomenon upon its release in 1977. The beginning of a multi-billion dollar franchise, the film starred Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher in lead roles, and was a space opera chronicling the journey of a group of rebel heroes against the dictatorial intergalactic empire, with its chief enforcer being the villainous Darth Vader.
“Film was always his thing”: Jonathan Nolan Compares Christopher Nolan to Steven Spielberg as He Recalls a Heartwarming Childhood Memory About Older Brother
While the film became a worldwide success and is still a franchise that churns out films and TV series, creator George Lucas reportedly did not believe the film would be a huge blockbuster hit. When he showed a rough cut of the film to his filmmaker friends, Lucas recalled that many of them sympathized with him and felt that the film would flop (viaInsider).
George Lucas mentioned in a panel discussion at the 2015 Tribeca Festival (via Insider) that he himself did not expect the film to do so well, and that the only person who believed in the film was his friend and fellow filmmaker Steven Spielberg. Lucas recalled that Spielberg was ecstatic when he saw the first cut Lucas showed and called it a blockbuster.
“I didn’t think the film was going to be successful…I showed it to all of my friends early on, but it was mostly [filled with] stock footage of old war movies, and all kinds of stuff. They saw it and [said] ‘Poor George.’ ‘What were you thinking?’. Steven had jumped up, and said, ‘This is going to be the biggest movie of all time’. Everybody in the room looked up at Steven and [said], ‘Poor Steven.'”
“That’s how the project finally came to me”: How Clash of Egos Helped Steven Spielberg Land His Breakout Film That Almost Went to Another Director
Star Warshad a dream run at the cinemas, earning an unprecedented $1.5 million in its opening weekend (viaBox Office Mojo). The film ended up earning over $500 million and surpassed Spielberg’s ownJawsas the highest-grossing film at the time.
Steven Spielberg Won A Bet Against George Lucas That Gives Him Profits FromStar Wars
Steven Spielberg’sbelief inStar Warsseemed to have not only earned him brownie points for being a great friend but also earned him profits from the film. Spielberg recalled in an interview that George Lucas visited him on the sets ofClose Encounters of the Third Kindafter filmingStar Wars,and was reportedly disappointed with what he had shot.
“It would be too boring”: James Cameron Will Never Make 1 Steven Spielberg Styled Film That Received 7 Oscar Nominations Upon Release
Spielberg mentioned that George Lucas was extremely impressed by the sets and production of the former’s film and felt that it would be a huge blockbuster. He reportedly even went as far as making a deal with Spielberg saying that they would get 2.5% trade points on each others’ films. According toInsider,
“[George Lucas] said, ‘Oh my God, your movie is going to be so much more successful than ‘Star Wars’! This is gonna be the biggest hit of all time. I can’t believe this set. I can’t believe what you’re getting, and oh my goodness.’ He said, ‘All right, I’ll tell you what. I’ll trade some points with you. You want to trade some points? I’ll give you 2.5% of ‘Star Wars’ if you give me 2.5% of ‘Close Encounters.’ So I said, ‘Sure, I’ll gamble with that. Great.'”
WhileClose Encounters of the Third Kindwas a box-office success,earning over $306 million worldwide, it was nowhere near the cultural phenomenon thatStar Warsended up being. Hence, the trade seemed to have worked in theWest Side Storyfilmmaker’s favor.
All films and shows in theStar Warsfranchise are available to stream on Disney+.
Nishanth A
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2416
Nishanth A is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 2,000 articles published. He has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a scriptwriter at various corporations before that, working on educational content. With a Communications, English Literature, and Psychology triple major, Nishanth usually covers news and analyses on Star Trek, particularly Strange New Worlds and The Next Generation; Doctor Who, the DCU, and more.A Nolan fan, Nishanth spends his time exploring the filmographies of various directors with an auteurial style or can be found making short movies of his own. He has also contributed as a feature writer for Film Companion, focusing on the South division.
More from Nishanth A
Transformers Star Is Absolutely Right on Why He Rejected ‘The Penguin’
5 Bella Ramsey Performances So Good, You’ll Forget ‘The Last of Us’ Controversy
What Is Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 Episode 7 About? ‘What Is Starfleet’ – Everything We Know
Recommended
‘Lord of Mysteries’ and ‘To Be Hero X’ Are Giving ‘One Piece’ a Massive Reality Check
10 Actors You Didn’t Know Were in Smallville: From Dave Bautista to Cobie Smulders
NYT Connections Hints and Solution for July 29, 2025
Toei Animation May Have Lost Its Touch After ‘One Piece’s Hiatus
Top 5 Best Time Skips in Anime
Dark Crime Shows With Mike-Like Antiheroes to Watch Before Mayor of Kingstown Season 4
George LucasSteven Spielberg
