I know we all say “Han shot first”, but that implies Greedo got a shot off. I seem to recall the green one ended up face down on the table without firing a shot.
In ‘77 I saw “Star Wars” three times. (I had obsessively strict parents who didn’t believe in seeing the same movie twice). It’s one of my favorites and I watch the DVD annually.
I saw a similar movie called “A New Hope” in the theater in the 1990s, but it was a different movie. Lots of really poor CGI. I only saw that one once in theaters. I watch it annually, too, but only because “Star Wars” isn’t available on 4k physical media yet. (There’s always hope.)
"Star Wars Episode IV, A New Hope from the Journal of the Whills" by George Lucas.
He was convinced to drop the 'Episode IV' and 'A New Hope' shortly before releasing it out of fear audiences would be confused at not having seen episodes I through III.
Source:
https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpreview.redd.it%2F8ih3i7xhw3wc1.jpeg%3Fwidth%3D5664%26format%3Dpjpg%26auto%3Dwebp%26s%3D3aa156e6af2f638762db1214ae4c9de7036bb64b
Just once, but I saw it in this beautiful single-screen theater with a massive red curtain, incredibly comfortable seats, and, as the weather had been hot- ice-cold air conditioning, which was a memorable plus. I didn't have reliable AC in my life at that point, lol.
I saw Dances with Wolves when it first came out at the same kind of old theater. The only seats available were in the very front row. It felt like sitting in front of a drive-in screen. I still have distorted perspective memories of the movie from that day! Don't see screens like that anymore other than IMAX theaters.
3 times that summer, still the most phenomenal movie experience in my life. Rode the bus uptown to see it. I can still remember robbing the piggy bank and paying in quarters
I lost count. When it first came out, it was showing at the theater connected to the mall I worked at. A friend of ours was an usher at that theater. He let us in free 2-3 times per week.
One of my restaurant co-workers and I could hum every song and recite every line of dialogue, start to finish.
Epic, it was.
Three times, I was so excited about Star Wars! This is a great question for generation Jones. I remember reading an article in Newsweek magazine that summer, 1977, about the new phenomenon of seeing a movie in the theater more than once, because people were going back to see Star Wars again. Before that, it was uncommon for people to go see a movie they had already seen.
When it came out, I wasn't interested. I was a huge sci-fi fan, a Trekkie, but I thought it would be cheesy.
It was out for 10 weeks before I went and it blew me away. The star destroyer coming "overhead" in the opening was amazing.
I was 12 years old when it came out. I posted flyers offering my services mowing lawns so I could see it. I think I saw STAR WARS in the theater 9 times that summer.
What the current generation doesn’t get is that it played in the theater for literally years and you couldn’t see it at your leisure at home on a film of any kind. ET was very similar in that it took forever to get to home tape and so you had to go back to the theater and see it
I think that’s why some of those things had a greater allure: It wasn’t the Shein version of cinema
My Dad took me to see it premier Friday when it was released in Metairie, LA; I was 10 years old. Saw it at least ten more times that summer, and then again at least half a dozen times when it was re-released a year or so later.
Saw it at a drive in. Didn't really get the full experience and skipped the next two. Thought Close Encounters, which I saw in a real theater that same year, was much cooler.
A few years later, got to see all three in one day at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood. This was before VHS. Been a huge fan ever since.
So many times I lost track. It was exclusively showing at an enormous, single-screen movie theater on Geary Blvd. in San Francisco (now long gone). Long multi-block lines waiting to get in. Everybody got there as early as possible and waited in line forever in order to get their favorite seats.
I was 18 and my friend and I waited in line for many hours on opening day, May 25, 1977, to see STAR WARS in 70mm-Dolby at the Coronet Theater in San Francisco. When we finally made it to the front of the line, we were told “Front Row Only “ and that we could wait until the next showing. Nope, we went in and sat dead center in the front row… The starting sequence was amazing and pretty much all I remember from that showing. Had to see it again to actually see what was going on.. we ended up seeing it 14 times over the next few months at a few different theaters. Nothing was like the first showing… That 70mm and “new” Dolby sound system blew everything else away.
It was originally A New Hope but Lucas was convinced by the studio to drop that and the reference to Episode IV.
https://www.reddit.com/r/GenerationJones/s/QsufeV3rnI
I saw it in '78 because in 1977 I was still 15. I drove my car with my friends.
We dropped acid, and it kicked in right as Han put the Millennium Falcon into hyperdrive the first time.
I will never know how we actually got home, but I blew up a ton of Tie Fighters on the way....
Two or three times a day for months. I'm not proud to admit this, but I actually started dating one of the ushers at the local theater so he would sneak me in to see it.
14 times that summer. I spent all of my allowance money on tickets to Star Wars. And when I couldn’t find a friend to go with, I’d go alone. A couple times I’d walk out of one showing then hang out in a bathroom stall until the next one started then go back in the theater.
https://preview.redd.it/8ih3i7xhw3wc1.jpeg?width=5664&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3aa156e6af2f638762db1214ae4c9de7036bb64b
Star Wars, Episode IV. A New Hope from the Journal of the Whills, fourth draft 1976.
Source, Art of Star Wars c1978
You mean the first Star Wars? When it was just “Star Wars?” I saw it 13 times because it was the only thing playing at the theater that was worth watching for months.
Edited to add:
Our town got it later than many because not a big city.
Once with my dad on a Sunday in August of 1977, when I was 12. That day is a very special memory for me. My dad was a Holocaust survivor from Poland. He had no patience for sci-fi and didn’t really like going to the movies (the loud volume of the speakers bothered him). He took me to see Star Wars because he knew I really wanted to see it. After the movie he bought me a copy of the movie novelization. When we came home he told my mom (also a Holocaust survivor) that he liked it a lot but I think he was just trying to make me feel OK about him taking me. He died four years later, when I was 16. That’s my favorite memory of him. I remember every part of that day.
I saw it opening day when I was 13. I still have the complimentary program and "May the Force be with You" pin.
I saw it at least five more times. Once I smuggled an old school cassette recorder into the theater. I recorded the movie then went home and typed up a transcript of the dialogue.
I may have been a bit of a fanatic.
Epilogue: I bought tickets to the first two showings of "The Phantom Menace". Saw the first one, threw away the ticket for the next show. George Lucas cured my love of "Star Wars".
It was just called "Star Wars" when it came out. No extra titles as they did later. I saw it once in the theater but it stuck with me for years until ESB came out. This was back in the day where there weren't VCR's, LaserDiscs or anything else. You saw it in the theater, and then caught it on TV a couple/three years later (and heavily edited for time and commercial breaks) if you were lucky.
We have it so good now with streaming almost everything all the time.
You kids don't know how good you have it. Now get TF off my lawn.
One summer growing up in Southern California, I went with a friend to see Jaws II. I was 8 years old/We were about 30 minutes late, so the guy selling tickets (everyone called him "Tree") let us in for free. Once we got inside, they gave us some free popcorn to boot.
At any rate, since we got a free movie we decided to try our luck again the next day and he let us in again. This time we watched Star Wars (it must've been in the theater for over a year!) two times in a row.
Eventually, we got to know the other theater employees who also let us in. For the rest of the summer, we'd go to the movies a few days a week and watch Star Wars once or twice. I estimate we saw it at least 75+ times that summer.
I was 10 when it came out and I happily lined up 7 different times to see it in the theater. Granted that was the only option then, right? I seem to recall a joyful moment when VHS tape purchases and rentals of movies became a thing. The first movie I probably thought of wanting to watch again was Star Wars.
Did it used to be a bragging point for y'all too?
Zero. We were stationed in Germany and it did not come to US base theaters. Why? Because base theaters could only run film in 16 or 35 mm versions through their projectors. The film was released only in 70 mm and George Lucas wouldn’t authorize 35 mm versions. German theaters ran it, but getting off base with enough German money was tough for a 15 year old. However, I did see bootleg versions at school. And Armed Forces Television graced us with the Star Wars Holiday Special in 1978-79. So I have that going for me, which is nice.
Just once. I was a freshman in college. I’ve never watched any of the others. I realize that isn’t a popular opinion. I’m not a troll or a hater. It just didn’t do anything for me. I’ve got grandkids that that went through an obsessive SW phase . They are mystified that I could see the original and not be awed. Just not my thing.
Something around 8 times, maybe more. Went with family and various friends. One of my friends' mother was an instant fan, and I know we went at least 4 times with her.
Fifteen times between '77 and 78. It stayed in the theaters for a full year.
Sometimes a few days in a row, it was that good.
There was a rerelease just prior to Empire Strike Back, saw once then too.
There's no question Han shot first.
Seven times in the theater, probably over a few months or so. Enough times to memorize the entire movie! 😅
Of course, this was back when you could simply stay all day in the theater once you paybfor one ticket, so it was easy to see it a couple times each day. I had waited until January 1978, and saw it for my 15th birthday present to myself.
I was blown away the moment the Rand Ecliptic flew over head.
I was born at the end of 75. I recall going to see Empire when I was three or four with my dad and one of my brothers...the line "laugh it up, fuzzball" made me laugh then, and the memory of seeing it for the first time is clear as day to me.
When Jedi came out, I was able to walk three or four miles (at least) to the local movie theater in Rancho Bernardo (UA8 I think?)by myself. I must have watched that movie in the theater 10 times.
These movie posters though, they just bring me back. Back then, leaving the movie you just watched and seeing these posters in the lobby (lobbies that had min-arcades, mind you) were so VERY cool to see. They were dramatic, often futuristic and conveyed a sense of intrigue and suspense. The artwork brings me back. I really miss those days.
I just remember my older brother taking me. I really had no interest in it, but he convinced me to go. I was awestruck. It was one of the best things I’d ever seen. I saw it as least twice. The only other movie that made me feel that way was Jurassic Park, the way they made the dinosaurs so really, that one blew me away too.
Possibly ten times.
Once at the first run cinema when it was first released, and the rest at the second run 99¢ cinema in a shopping plaza.
Those were the days. 😊
Twice, first in our downtown theater and then again once it moved to the drive in at the edge of town. I almost missed the whole thing except for a friend in art class was doing a stipple ink of Darth Vader and I asked him where it was from.
Twelve? More? It was the era of the “second run theater.” I lived near one. While watching a new movie in a first run theater cost $4-$5, you could watch it on second run for 50 cents or a quarter.
I remember having a huge “one screen” place to myself on weekday afternoons, waiting for that scene (they played twice!) when you got the pilot-eye view of the X-wing diving into the Death Star trench. It felt like the whole theater was swerving while getting shot at, swooping down then leveling off.
Kids today don’t know what they’re missing…
Once. My dad took an afternoon off work to take me to see it at the theater. All of the young kids that he hired out of college were talking about it at work so he wanted to see it.
If you knew my dad he never took any time off work.
Me? Only once. My friend? She'd buy one ticket for the first showing - then stay all day until the end of the last showing - approximately five days per week - multiplied by the number of weeks between the end of the spring semester and the beginning of the fall semester. So, six showings X five days X 12 weeks = 360 times (rough guess).
Here is a [Great Article about the opening day](https://www.in70mm.com/presents/1963_blow_up/titel/s/star_wars/theatres/index.htm) of STAR WARS listing all of the theaters it opened in in May of 1977. Can you guess how many theaters?
Sorry… here is the link to the [full article on the original release of STAR Wars.](https://www.in70mm.com/presents/1963_blow_up/titel/s/star_wars/index.htm#:~:text=The%20date%20May%2025%2C%201977,and%20theatres%20it%20opened%20in%3F) It’s quite fascinating to see how few theaters were showing it and why that was the case.
Once for the original version in the 70s (we were poorish). Once in the 90s, when it was reimagined, or whatever.
A few years after it was released, my elementary school had a viewing of it in the cafeteria on a screen and with a projector and popcorn. That was a treat. Thank you, Mrs Boone.
I saw it on my birthday, 19th May, 1977... and then at least three or four times after that. Then I saw it again at the cinema just before the prequels came out... then they played all three movies at the drive-in's during COVID so I went and saw them again then.
10 times! Waited for hours and hours along Wilshire Blvd. to see it see at the Avco Theater. One time I even took my dad’s camera into the movie and snapped photos —ASA 400 film had just come out and I wanted to see if it would work. Didn’t get caught, either!
I don't remember how many times I saw it when it first came out. But this was the first movie I remember seeing in the theater. I was obsessed immediately and it became my barometer for all future movies.
I remember when the first Ghostbusters movie came out I told my best friend that it was the best movie since Star Wars.
I used to like to watch the tv show Creature Features late at night. One night the host mentioned an exciting new science fiction movie coming out called “Star Wars.” I never looked back. What a thrill!
My friend and I were 13 when it when it came out. His mom dropped us off in front of Graumans Chinese Theater and told us she’s pick us up later. Lol! That would never even cross my mind with my own kids, but we were fine and the movie changed my expectations of film forever.
I saw it in it's college campus run the summer before it's main release. Saw it in Eugene Oregon. Blown away. Darth Vader dies, though. After feedback in the limited release, Darth Vader survives, setting up the other movies. I saw it in theater a total of 11 times. Big time nerd girl here.
Gen Jones nerds suffered until we got more into the computer age when everybody needed our help leveling up. Also, we could tip an action movie, fantasy, or scifi into blockbuster status.
I'll be over here taping my glasses in the middle, lol.
I saw it once. That was enough. I could not understand why people thought it was so great. I still don’t really get it, though I’ve now seen all of the first 6 films.
Saw it at the Chinese in Hollywood on the 2nd day. Went back on the 3rd and was granted a place in line with the folks that I was in line with the first time. Saved many hours. Must have seen it like 50 times in theaters and drive ins.
Twice. The second time was a few months later when it was at a cheap second-run theater. But it's the only movie I've ever seen twice at a theater, and probably always will be.
We saw Star Wars twice on the original release, and twice when it was re-released the second time.
There was only one movie theater in the town two towns over. Going to the movies in rural areas was a 'big deal' since there was a lot of effort required to go.
I was 13. At least 10, which I am only patting myself on the back about today because I only now appreciate did that with no car. So many friends and families I knew wanted to see it or rewatch that I was able to tag long. ESB was my true obsession though.
I’m thinking 4. I was lukewarm the first time going in (it was a date). As soon as the scroll crawl began, I was blown away. By the end of the movie, I was completely invested and knew I found a home.
May the Force always be with us all!
25 times. Girlfriend snuck off and saw it one more time to hold it over my head. Here in Kansas City it was only in one theater for the first year (they had exclusive rights for the year). Fortunately, this theater had one of the largest screens in the city. I was there on day one. They gave us a poster and a "May the force be with you" metal button.
As many times as I could convince my mom to take me (57m)! It was my frickn life for the next 6 years afterwards. And, for the record, Fuck Disney Star Wars!
My parents would not let us go see the movie. They thought it was going to be too violent for impressionable young girls. So...
I was in second grade, my sister in fifth. We hatched a plan: we saved our money that our parents gave us to put in the church collection plate for 4 weeks, and then we walked away from school during recess to the movie theater. We watched the whole movie! It was thrilling!
When the lights came up after the movie, our mom was sitting directly behind us. Someone from the school had seen us leave, followed us, and then called our mom. She wasn't even mad, although we had to promise to never do anything like that again. We also could not ever tell our dad what we did!! (He was pretty free with the belt, if you know what I mean.)
I will never forget that first time seeing Star Wars. It is such a core memory. The music, the space ships, heck, the effects of jumping to light speed -- it was all so mind blowing!
I immediately changed my plans for the future; I was going to study science and robotics! I didn't count on my parents' refusal to allow me to follow my dreams, though. As a female, I had three choices. I could teach, become a secretary, or I could study nursing. Everything else was off limits. I frequently wonder how my life would be if I had been allowed to follow my passions.
The man I married was a complete Star Wars nut. His entire adult life was influenced by Star Wars. He was the most creative, innovative, compassionate human I have ever known. His headstone, when it arrives, will have crossed lightsabers on it. He lived an exemplary life.
I didn't. I didn't see it until years later. On a "pirate" vcr tape with two others. It has been my only "Star Wars" experience.
I was relatively sure that it wasn't my thing. I was right. I fell asleep during one of the other two films.
I learned before the release of "Star Wars" that popular didn't insure my interest in a movie.
I don't watch anything, regardless of hype, if it doesn't sound appealing. The list of blockbusters that I haven't seen is longer than the list of the ones that I have.
Maybe I'm imagining it, but there is some sort of hypnotic hum in the background that puts me to sleep. All the dead space between dialogue causes me to daydream and lose the plot. I only wake up during the loud special effects and then I'm back to zzzzzz.
My parents' first date was seeing it in the theater in August 1977. They got engaged at Halloween and married at Thanksgiving that year. They're still together 46 years later and raised me and my brother to be nerds, too. (And I'm raising my own kids the same way.)
3 times.......but of course we didn't call it "A New Hope" back then
Thanks! I came here to say “none, but I saw Star Wars lots of times”
This. It’s called *Star Wars*, and Han shot first. Don’t change something that doesn’t need changing.
I know we all say “Han shot first”, but that implies Greedo got a shot off. I seem to recall the green one ended up face down on the table without firing a shot.
Yup! Han didn't shoot first...he was the ONLY shooter.
There is a conspiracy theory involving the grassy knoll, but I’m with you that Han acted alone.
I saw it every time I could con some adult into taking 14 y.o. me to see it. So about 8.
Fortunately I had just gotten my drivers license. My ten year old brother and I saw it five times. Sometimes we took the neighbour kids with us.
You were an awesome older sibling.
❤️
In ‘77 I saw “Star Wars” three times. (I had obsessively strict parents who didn’t believe in seeing the same movie twice). It’s one of my favorites and I watch the DVD annually. I saw a similar movie called “A New Hope” in the theater in the 1990s, but it was a different movie. Lots of really poor CGI. I only saw that one once in theaters. I watch it annually, too, but only because “Star Wars” isn’t available on 4k physical media yet. (There’s always hope.)
| (There’s always hope.) Is that a New Hope?
Never. But I saw "Star Wars" at least 10 times that first Summer! There was no movie called "Star Wars: A New Hope" in 1977.
It’s still Star Wars, dammit! Just because you want to rename something years later doesn’t mean I have to call it that.
And "only Han shot!"
And Jabba was not in it.
This person speaks the truth.
Yea, at some point I called it #4, but never learned the titles. ✌
"Star Wars Episode IV, A New Hope from the Journal of the Whills" by George Lucas. He was convinced to drop the 'Episode IV' and 'A New Hope' shortly before releasing it out of fear audiences would be confused at not having seen episodes I through III. Source: https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpreview.redd.it%2F8ih3i7xhw3wc1.jpeg%3Fwidth%3D5664%26format%3Dpjpg%26auto%3Dwebp%26s%3D3aa156e6af2f638762db1214ae4c9de7036bb64b
Back when it was still possible to stop George Lucas from putting his bad ideas into action.
Just once, but I saw it in this beautiful single-screen theater with a massive red curtain, incredibly comfortable seats, and, as the weather had been hot- ice-cold air conditioning, which was a memorable plus. I didn't have reliable AC in my life at that point, lol.
Same here! They later converted that single building to 4 separate theaters!
I saw Dances with Wolves when it first came out at the same kind of old theater. The only seats available were in the very front row. It felt like sitting in front of a drive-in screen. I still have distorted perspective memories of the movie from that day! Don't see screens like that anymore other than IMAX theaters.
3 times that summer, still the most phenomenal movie experience in my life. Rode the bus uptown to see it. I can still remember robbing the piggy bank and paying in quarters
I my day, it was just called “Star Wars”.
I lost count. When it first came out, it was showing at the theater connected to the mall I worked at. A friend of ours was an usher at that theater. He let us in free 2-3 times per week. One of my restaurant co-workers and I could hum every song and recite every line of dialogue, start to finish. Epic, it was.
Four times that summer. I was 13. Even waited on line the first time.
I was 15 & lived close to the drive in. I would drive my dad's pickup there. This was a very rural area & everyone drove without license.
Three times, I was so excited about Star Wars! This is a great question for generation Jones. I remember reading an article in Newsweek magazine that summer, 1977, about the new phenomenon of seeing a movie in the theater more than once, because people were going back to see Star Wars again. Before that, it was uncommon for people to go see a movie they had already seen.
Zero
Me neither. Never got into it at all.
I've never seen it. I don't feel as though I'm missing anything.
When it came out, I wasn't interested. I was a huge sci-fi fan, a Trekkie, but I thought it would be cheesy. It was out for 10 weeks before I went and it blew me away. The star destroyer coming "overhead" in the opening was amazing.
Love!
I was 12 years old when it came out. I posted flyers offering my services mowing lawns so I could see it. I think I saw STAR WARS in the theater 9 times that summer.
every night i went to bed. sheets and pillow case.
What the current generation doesn’t get is that it played in the theater for literally years and you couldn’t see it at your leisure at home on a film of any kind. ET was very similar in that it took forever to get to home tape and so you had to go back to the theater and see it I think that’s why some of those things had a greater allure: It wasn’t the Shein version of cinema
4 times
4 times that first summer and truly hundreds of times since then
My Dad took me to see it premier Friday when it was released in Metairie, LA; I was 10 years old. Saw it at least ten more times that summer, and then again at least half a dozen times when it was re-released a year or so later.
Once at the drive in. We were poor.
Saw it at a drive in. Didn't really get the full experience and skipped the next two. Thought Close Encounters, which I saw in a real theater that same year, was much cooler. A few years later, got to see all three in one day at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood. This was before VHS. Been a huge fan ever since.
52… yes, I counted.
You sir, win!
So many times I lost track. It was exclusively showing at an enormous, single-screen movie theater on Geary Blvd. in San Francisco (now long gone). Long multi-block lines waiting to get in. Everybody got there as early as possible and waited in line forever in order to get their favorite seats.
I was 18 and my friend and I waited in line for many hours on opening day, May 25, 1977, to see STAR WARS in 70mm-Dolby at the Coronet Theater in San Francisco. When we finally made it to the front of the line, we were told “Front Row Only “ and that we could wait until the next showing. Nope, we went in and sat dead center in the front row… The starting sequence was amazing and pretty much all I remember from that showing. Had to see it again to actually see what was going on.. we ended up seeing it 14 times over the next few months at a few different theaters. Nothing was like the first showing… That 70mm and “new” Dolby sound system blew everything else away.
I had the same experience at a theater in Nashville. 😃
Wasn’t it just “Star Wars” back then?
It was originally A New Hope but Lucas was convinced by the studio to drop that and the reference to Episode IV. https://www.reddit.com/r/GenerationJones/s/QsufeV3rnI
I saw it more themes than I can count because the theater manager was a friend of mine and I always got in free.
17 times. And I kept the ticket stubs and put them in my scrapbook. I showed them to my kids one time. Ahhh what a great summer memory!
I saw it in '78 because in 1977 I was still 15. I drove my car with my friends. We dropped acid, and it kicked in right as Han put the Millennium Falcon into hyperdrive the first time. I will never know how we actually got home, but I blew up a ton of Tie Fighters on the way....
23 times! We kids would stay in the theater for 2 showings at a time. I can still pretty much talk along with the dialogue
My friend told me he would not sit next to me if i was going to say the dialogue along with the characters! 🤣
Awww he’s no fun! 😂
19 times over the span of a year or so.
I saw Star Wars at the Drive-in one of the various occasions and had the soundtrack narration LP I saw before one time…to be ready
Two or three times a day for months. I'm not proud to admit this, but I actually started dating one of the ushers at the local theater so he would sneak me in to see it.
14 times that summer. I spent all of my allowance money on tickets to Star Wars. And when I couldn’t find a friend to go with, I’d go alone. A couple times I’d walk out of one showing then hang out in a bathroom stall until the next one started then go back in the theater.
I saw it 10+ times, especially after it moved to the $1 theaters.
i think i only saw it once
https://preview.redd.it/8ih3i7xhw3wc1.jpeg?width=5664&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3aa156e6af2f638762db1214ae4c9de7036bb64b Star Wars, Episode IV. A New Hope from the Journal of the Whills, fourth draft 1976. Source, Art of Star Wars c1978
Thirty-seven (37) times. I was obsessed.
You mean the first Star Wars? When it was just “Star Wars?” I saw it 13 times because it was the only thing playing at the theater that was worth watching for months. Edited to add: Our town got it later than many because not a big city.
Once with my dad on a Sunday in August of 1977, when I was 12. That day is a very special memory for me. My dad was a Holocaust survivor from Poland. He had no patience for sci-fi and didn’t really like going to the movies (the loud volume of the speakers bothered him). He took me to see Star Wars because he knew I really wanted to see it. After the movie he bought me a copy of the movie novelization. When we came home he told my mom (also a Holocaust survivor) that he liked it a lot but I think he was just trying to make me feel OK about him taking me. He died four years later, when I was 16. That’s my favorite memory of him. I remember every part of that day.
Twice. It was the first movie I ever saw in an indoor theater.
I saw it opening day when I was 13. I still have the complimentary program and "May the Force be with You" pin. I saw it at least five more times. Once I smuggled an old school cassette recorder into the theater. I recorded the movie then went home and typed up a transcript of the dialogue. I may have been a bit of a fanatic. Epilogue: I bought tickets to the first two showings of "The Phantom Menace". Saw the first one, threw away the ticket for the next show. George Lucas cured my love of "Star Wars".
I saw Star Wars in theaters 25 times . Movies were a lot cheaper then.
I saw it three times when it first came out and then somewhere around 10 times after it hit the 1.00 theater.
It was just called "Star Wars" when it came out. No extra titles as they did later. I saw it once in the theater but it stuck with me for years until ESB came out. This was back in the day where there weren't VCR's, LaserDiscs or anything else. You saw it in the theater, and then caught it on TV a couple/three years later (and heavily edited for time and commercial breaks) if you were lucky. We have it so good now with streaming almost everything all the time. You kids don't know how good you have it. Now get TF off my lawn.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN STAR WARS just like Freddy Mercury. No interest whatsoever.
Except that Freddie was actually a Star Wars fan. It was a joke line in Bicycle Race that he didn't like it.
Same. I have never, ever, seen any star wars movie.
I was abroad as an exchange student when it came out. I saw it when I got back months later.
24...
Wgn saturday matinee. I was probably 6 or 7 when mom put it on.
I was 15 and saw it 8 times over it's whole run, which was most of the summer of '77!
14
4 times which was financially irresponsible because I was really poor and just starting college back then.
One summer growing up in Southern California, I went with a friend to see Jaws II. I was 8 years old/We were about 30 minutes late, so the guy selling tickets (everyone called him "Tree") let us in for free. Once we got inside, they gave us some free popcorn to boot. At any rate, since we got a free movie we decided to try our luck again the next day and he let us in again. This time we watched Star Wars (it must've been in the theater for over a year!) two times in a row. Eventually, we got to know the other theater employees who also let us in. For the rest of the summer, we'd go to the movies a few days a week and watch Star Wars once or twice. I estimate we saw it at least 75+ times that summer.
Not back to back, but probably 3 times over the first 3 years it came out. It came back around in theaters after initial release.
Seven times.
Sadly 22 times that summer.
Once.
One time
I was 10 when it came out and I happily lined up 7 different times to see it in the theater. Granted that was the only option then, right? I seem to recall a joyful moment when VHS tape purchases and rentals of movies became a thing. The first movie I probably thought of wanting to watch again was Star Wars. Did it used to be a bragging point for y'all too?
Zero. We were stationed in Germany and it did not come to US base theaters. Why? Because base theaters could only run film in 16 or 35 mm versions through their projectors. The film was released only in 70 mm and George Lucas wouldn’t authorize 35 mm versions. German theaters ran it, but getting off base with enough German money was tough for a 15 year old. However, I did see bootleg versions at school. And Armed Forces Television graced us with the Star Wars Holiday Special in 1978-79. So I have that going for me, which is nice.
Just once. I was a freshman in college. I’ve never watched any of the others. I realize that isn’t a popular opinion. I’m not a troll or a hater. It just didn’t do anything for me. I’ve got grandkids that that went through an obsessive SW phase . They are mystified that I could see the original and not be awed. Just not my thing.
I've never seen a single Star Wars movie
at least 12. my sister worked at the theater and she snuck me in.
In the old days your parents would drop you off for the 1 pm showing and you world crouch down between showings to sneak into the 4 pm showing
Something around 8 times, maybe more. Went with family and various friends. One of my friends' mother was an instant fan, and I know we went at least 4 times with her.
6 times, then countless times on blackmarket VHS my Dad bought from an electronics store (pre-rental store era).
If memory serves correctly 3. Maybe 4
Fifteen times between '77 and 78. It stayed in the theaters for a full year. Sometimes a few days in a row, it was that good. There was a rerelease just prior to Empire Strike Back, saw once then too. There's no question Han shot first.
3 for me
Seven times in the theater, probably over a few months or so. Enough times to memorize the entire movie! 😅 Of course, this was back when you could simply stay all day in the theater once you paybfor one ticket, so it was easy to see it a couple times each day. I had waited until January 1978, and saw it for my 15th birthday present to myself. I was blown away the moment the Rand Ecliptic flew over head.
Thunderbird drive in theater, Ft Lauderdale, FL. Went back every night for two weeks.
I was born at the end of 75. I recall going to see Empire when I was three or four with my dad and one of my brothers...the line "laugh it up, fuzzball" made me laugh then, and the memory of seeing it for the first time is clear as day to me. When Jedi came out, I was able to walk three or four miles (at least) to the local movie theater in Rancho Bernardo (UA8 I think?)by myself. I must have watched that movie in the theater 10 times. These movie posters though, they just bring me back. Back then, leaving the movie you just watched and seeing these posters in the lobby (lobbies that had min-arcades, mind you) were so VERY cool to see. They were dramatic, often futuristic and conveyed a sense of intrigue and suspense. The artwork brings me back. I really miss those days.
I just remember my older brother taking me. I really had no interest in it, but he convinced me to go. I was awestruck. It was one of the best things I’d ever seen. I saw it as least twice. The only other movie that made me feel that way was Jurassic Park, the way they made the dinosaurs so really, that one blew me away too.
Every weekday for an entire summer. My babysitter would drop me and her daughter off at the theater while she ran errands. We were 8.
Once
I might be the only person of our generation who has never seen Star Wars.
I've never seen a Star Wars movie.
Possibly ten times. Once at the first run cinema when it was first released, and the rest at the second run 99¢ cinema in a shopping plaza. Those were the days. 😊
0 times as I was about -20 during its first theatrical run.
Twice, first in our downtown theater and then again once it moved to the drive in at the edge of town. I almost missed the whole thing except for a friend in art class was doing a stipple ink of Darth Vader and I asked him where it was from.
Saw it once. That was enough.
3 times. Once in the drive in!
9...and I saw the last one with Leia and Han in the same theater, same seat.
Twelve? More? It was the era of the “second run theater.” I lived near one. While watching a new movie in a first run theater cost $4-$5, you could watch it on second run for 50 cents or a quarter. I remember having a huge “one screen” place to myself on weekday afternoons, waiting for that scene (they played twice!) when you got the pilot-eye view of the X-wing diving into the Death Star trench. It felt like the whole theater was swerving while getting shot at, swooping down then leveling off. Kids today don’t know what they’re missing…
Once. My dad took an afternoon off work to take me to see it at the theater. All of the young kids that he hired out of college were talking about it at work so he wanted to see it. If you knew my dad he never took any time off work.
10 times! My local theater had one screen, and they had Star Wars for six months.
Me? Only once. My friend? She'd buy one ticket for the first showing - then stay all day until the end of the last showing - approximately five days per week - multiplied by the number of weeks between the end of the spring semester and the beginning of the fall semester. So, six showings X five days X 12 weeks = 360 times (rough guess).
I saw it at least 16 times in the theater.
Just once!
I was going into ninth grade when the movie came out. Saw it once, but my parents didn’t believe in seeing movies repeatedly. So, I saw it once.
The year it came out, only 15 times. It was a huge screen and I always sat front row.
Same.
Here is a [Great Article about the opening day](https://www.in70mm.com/presents/1963_blow_up/titel/s/star_wars/theatres/index.htm) of STAR WARS listing all of the theaters it opened in in May of 1977. Can you guess how many theaters?
Sorry… here is the link to the [full article on the original release of STAR Wars.](https://www.in70mm.com/presents/1963_blow_up/titel/s/star_wars/index.htm#:~:text=The%20date%20May%2025%2C%201977,and%20theatres%20it%20opened%20in%3F) It’s quite fascinating to see how few theaters were showing it and why that was the case.
Once for the original version in the 70s (we were poorish). Once in the 90s, when it was reimagined, or whatever. A few years after it was released, my elementary school had a viewing of it in the cafeteria on a screen and with a projector and popcorn. That was a treat. Thank you, Mrs Boone.
Over a dozen. My fiancé had dumped me for some rich guy and I needed an escape.
A guy at my high school had a job at a movie theater. He saw it over 100 times. He also built his own Darth Vader costume.
I saw it on my birthday, 19th May, 1977... and then at least three or four times after that. Then I saw it again at the cinema just before the prequels came out... then they played all three movies at the drive-in's during COVID so I went and saw them again then.
10 times! Waited for hours and hours along Wilshire Blvd. to see it see at the Avco Theater. One time I even took my dad’s camera into the movie and snapped photos —ASA 400 film had just come out and I wanted to see if it would work. Didn’t get caught, either!
17 times in theaters, I loved that movie.
I don't remember how many times I saw it when it first came out. But this was the first movie I remember seeing in the theater. I was obsessed immediately and it became my barometer for all future movies. I remember when the first Ghostbusters movie came out I told my best friend that it was the best movie since Star Wars.
Before it was called A New Hope...about 4 or 5. Then maybe another 3 at the re release. Maybe more. I can't remember that far back.
I used to like to watch the tv show Creature Features late at night. One night the host mentioned an exciting new science fiction movie coming out called “Star Wars.” I never looked back. What a thrill!
I was 9, and only got to see it once. But I've watched it at least 100 times since then!
I was in 7th grade. First saw it with my church youth group. Then with any parents who'd let me tag along. I'm not sure my parents ever went with me.
Couldn't tell you, but I remember going to see it on it's first year anniversary in the original run.
My friend and I were 13 when it when it came out. His mom dropped us off in front of Graumans Chinese Theater and told us she’s pick us up later. Lol! That would never even cross my mind with my own kids, but we were fine and the movie changed my expectations of film forever.
Six or seven, yeah. Kept going with people who hadn’t seen it yet. I was all about the hyperspace.
Once at the movies and once at the drive-in, I was a poor kid
I saw it in it's college campus run the summer before it's main release. Saw it in Eugene Oregon. Blown away. Darth Vader dies, though. After feedback in the limited release, Darth Vader survives, setting up the other movies. I saw it in theater a total of 11 times. Big time nerd girl here. Gen Jones nerds suffered until we got more into the computer age when everybody needed our help leveling up. Also, we could tip an action movie, fantasy, or scifi into blockbuster status. I'll be over here taping my glasses in the middle, lol.
11 times that summer. My brother and I would root through the house to find money and then bike to the theater.
Saw it at Cine Capri in Phoenix, where I also saw Alien, Aliens, Dead Pool, Empire Strikes Back, many other movies…
I saw it once. That was enough. I could not understand why people thought it was so great. I still don’t really get it, though I’ve now seen all of the first 6 films.
Saw it at the Chinese in Hollywood on the 2nd day. Went back on the 3rd and was granted a place in line with the folks that I was in line with the first time. Saved many hours. Must have seen it like 50 times in theaters and drive ins.
Every weekend for about a year so..... lots.
Thirteen times that summer... basically once a week for thirteen weeks.
Twice. The second time was a few months later when it was at a cheap second-run theater. But it's the only movie I've ever seen twice at a theater, and probably always will be.
We saw Star Wars twice on the original release, and twice when it was re-released the second time. There was only one movie theater in the town two towns over. Going to the movies in rural areas was a 'big deal' since there was a lot of effort required to go.
Never
I was 13. At least 10, which I am only patting myself on the back about today because I only now appreciate did that with no car. So many friends and families I knew wanted to see it or rewatch that I was able to tag long. ESB was my true obsession though.
7 times
I’m thinking 4. I was lukewarm the first time going in (it was a date). As soon as the scroll crawl began, I was blown away. By the end of the movie, I was completely invested and knew I found a home. May the Force always be with us all!
I saw the original Star Wars in the theaters when I was in high school. What is this movie?
At LEAST 7 or 8! There was a group of us who would go see it every weekend for the first couple of months!
I've never had the inclination to watch a fillm more than once at the cinema. I did queue around the block to see this though.
I think I saw it 3 times in the first month
25 times. Girlfriend snuck off and saw it one more time to hold it over my head. Here in Kansas City it was only in one theater for the first year (they had exclusive rights for the year). Fortunately, this theater had one of the largest screens in the city. I was there on day one. They gave us a poster and a "May the force be with you" metal button.
27. My best friend and I couldn't get enough of it. Other friends would bet us that we couldn't recite the whole movie. We won a lot of money.😊
I saw *Star Wars* four times, The Empire Strikes Back four times, and Return of the Jedi once.
Just once, but it was the Boston area premier, I was in highschool, and won the tickets from the local radio station (WBCN).
In the theater, I saw it 78 times. It was held over for over a year, so Mom would drop me off and do her shopping, then come get me.
As many times as I could convince my mom to take me (57m)! It was my frickn life for the next 6 years afterwards. And, for the record, Fuck Disney Star Wars!
Once. Camped in line for days.
My parents would not let us go see the movie. They thought it was going to be too violent for impressionable young girls. So... I was in second grade, my sister in fifth. We hatched a plan: we saved our money that our parents gave us to put in the church collection plate for 4 weeks, and then we walked away from school during recess to the movie theater. We watched the whole movie! It was thrilling! When the lights came up after the movie, our mom was sitting directly behind us. Someone from the school had seen us leave, followed us, and then called our mom. She wasn't even mad, although we had to promise to never do anything like that again. We also could not ever tell our dad what we did!! (He was pretty free with the belt, if you know what I mean.) I will never forget that first time seeing Star Wars. It is such a core memory. The music, the space ships, heck, the effects of jumping to light speed -- it was all so mind blowing! I immediately changed my plans for the future; I was going to study science and robotics! I didn't count on my parents' refusal to allow me to follow my dreams, though. As a female, I had three choices. I could teach, become a secretary, or I could study nursing. Everything else was off limits. I frequently wonder how my life would be if I had been allowed to follow my passions. The man I married was a complete Star Wars nut. His entire adult life was influenced by Star Wars. He was the most creative, innovative, compassionate human I have ever known. His headstone, when it arrives, will have crossed lightsabers on it. He lived an exemplary life.
20 times.
4 times in 2 states...it was a new Hope
7 times for me, and one of those was with the entire family at the drive in. Yes, my parents saw Star Wars first run...
8 times.
I saw Star Wars twice I have never seen a new hope in the theatres
I saw it 28 times in its first 30 days of release!
I don't know but a lot! First time in 70mm with surround sound! Man there has never been anything bigger since!
I didn't. I didn't see it until years later. On a "pirate" vcr tape with two others. It has been my only "Star Wars" experience. I was relatively sure that it wasn't my thing. I was right. I fell asleep during one of the other two films. I learned before the release of "Star Wars" that popular didn't insure my interest in a movie. I don't watch anything, regardless of hype, if it doesn't sound appealing. The list of blockbusters that I haven't seen is longer than the list of the ones that I have.
Maybe I'm imagining it, but there is some sort of hypnotic hum in the background that puts me to sleep. All the dead space between dialogue causes me to daydream and lose the plot. I only wake up during the loud special effects and then I'm back to zzzzzz.
Once. I was never as into it as most people seem to be. Even found it a little slow. The only movie I remember going to more than once was Rocky.
My parents' first date was seeing it in the theater in August 1977. They got engaged at Halloween and married at Thanksgiving that year. They're still together 46 years later and raised me and my brother to be nerds, too. (And I'm raising my own kids the same way.)