When George Lucas’ Star Wars premiered in 1977, the movie quickly became a phenomenon. On its 40th anniversary, The Onion looks back on the franchise’s defining moments:
4,000 BC-1972 AD
Everything Star Wars stole from
1975
George Lucas decides to expand his short PSA about the dangers of trash compactors into a feature film
1977
The FCC receives thousands of complaints about Chewbacca’s excessive on-screen nudity
1981
14-year-old Joseph Fuller explains the Force to his mother
1983
Thousands of unwanted Ewoks end up in pounds around the country after a spike in parents buying them as Christmas presents for children
1990
A Star Wars TV spin-off about rival X-wing pilots reworked into NBC’s Wings
1993
George Lucas begins work on the prequels by brainstorming some possible merchandising opportunities
1994
The Max Rebo Band breaks up following the death of slitherhornist Doda Bodonawieedo, who overdosed after mixing heroin with Jawa juice
2005
Star Wars: Episode III—Revenge Of The Sith suffers disappointing loss at Cannes Film Festival to Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne’s L’Enfant
2011
44-year-old Joseph Fuller explains the Force to his mother
2015
George Lucas downloads a pirated copy of The Force Awakens
2041
Critics conclude that Star Wars: Episode XXIV—Revenge Of The Force is better than Episodes I-III, IX-XIV, and XX-XXIII, but not as good as Episodes IV-VIII or XV-XIX
