See Decades of 'Star Wars' Mania, Then and Now

<p>Since the 1977 release of <em>Star Wars</em>, Jedi enthusiasts and Darth Vader apologists alike have come out in droves in anticipation of the latest installment of the epic franchise. As fans get ready for the Dec. 18 debut of <em>Star Wars: The Force Awakens</em>, take a look at <em>Star Wars</em> frenzy, through the years.</p>
<p> </p>

'Star Wars' Mania, Then and Now

Since the 1977 release of Star Wars, Jedi enthusiasts and Darth Vader apologists alike have come out in droves in anticipation of the latest installment of the epic franchise. As fans get ready for the Dec. 18 debut of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, take a look at Star Wars frenzy, through the years.

Getty Images; AP

June 7, 1977: Fans line up outside of Los Angeles' Avco Center Theater for Star Wars

May 22, 1980: Moviegoers line up for a screening of The Empire Strikes Back

John J. Sunderland/ Denver Post via Getty Images

May 22, 1980: A fan waits to buy tickets to The Empire Strikes Back at Denver's Cooper Theater.

John J. Sunderland/ Denver Post via Getty Images

May 25, 1983: Fans numbering in the hundreds line up outside of Toronto's University Theatre for Return of the Jedi

Toronto Star via Getty Images

May 23, 1983: Philadelphia's Boyd Theatre played host to hundreds of Star Wars fans who lined up ahead of Return of the Jedi

George Widman/AP

May 26, 1983: 20th Century Fox owner Marvin Davis and his wife Barbara Davis meet fans at Denver's premiere of The Return of the Jedi.

Damian Strohmeyer/ The Denver Post via Getty Images

May 6, 1999: Fans line up outside of New York City's Ziegfeld Theatre for The Phantom Menace

Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images

May 6, 1999: Fans line up outside of New York City's Ziegfeld Theatre for The Phantom Menace

Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images

May 12, 1999: Costumed fans get ready for The Phantom Menace at Hollywood's Mann's Chinese Theatre

Vince Bucci/AFP/Getty Images

May 12, 1999: A Star Wars fan readies her Princess Leia buns before buying Phantom Menace tickets at Washington, D.C.'s Uptown Theater

Mario Tama/AFP/Getty Images

April 27, 2002: Star Wars enthusiasts line up for the New York City premiere of Attack of the Clones

Lawrence Lucier/Getty Images

April 27, 2002: A young fan dressed as Queen Amidala gets ready for the New York City premiere of Attack of the Clones

Lawrence Lucier/Getty Images

April 11, 2002: An actor dressed as Darth Maul welcomes fans ahead of the Attack of the Clones premiere at Hollywood's Mann's Chinese Theater

Mike Nelson/AFP/Getty Images

January 9, 2002: A particularly enthusastic fan lines up far in advance for Attack of the Clones outside of Seattle's Cinerama Theater

Tim Matsui/Getty Images

May 16, 2002: Fans camp out for Attack of the Clones outside of Newport Beach's Edwards Newport Cinema

David McNew/Getty Images

May 19, 2005: A Star Wars fan dressed up as Darth Vader gets ready for Revenge of the Sith at Hollywood's Mann's Chinese Theatre

Mike Fanous/ Gamma via Getty Images

May 19, 2005: A Star Wars fan dressed up as Princess Leia gets ready for Revenge of the Sith at Hollywood's Mann's Chinese Theatre

Mike Fanous/ Gamma via Getty Images

April 13, 2005: Star Wars fans line up days in advance for Revenge of the Sith outside of Hollywood's Mann's Chinese Theater

Hector Mata/AFP/Getty Images

April 13, 2005: Star Wars fans line up days in advance for Revenge of the Sith outside of Hollywood's Mann's Chinese Theater

Hector Mata/AFP/Getty Images

December 9, 2015: Star Wars fans get ready for the premiere of The Force Awakens outside of Hollywood's TCL Chinese Theater

Damian Dovarganes/AP

1 of 22

Since the 1977 release of Star Wars, Jedi enthusiasts and Darth Vader apologists alike have come out in droves in anticipation of the latest installment of the epic franchise. As fans get ready for the Dec. 18 debut of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, take a look at Star Wars frenzy, through the years.

1 of 21 Getty Images; AP

'Star Wars' Mania, Then and Now

2 of 21 AP

June 7, 1977: Fans line up outside of Los Angeles' Avco Center Theater for Star Wars

3 of 21 John J. Sunderland/ Denver Post via Getty Images

May 22, 1980: Moviegoers line up for a screening of The Empire Strikes Back

4 of 21 John J. Sunderland/ Denver Post via Getty Images

May 22, 1980: A fan waits to buy tickets to The Empire Strikes Back at Denver's Cooper Theater.

5 of 21 Toronto Star via Getty Images

May 25, 1983: Fans numbering in the hundreds line up outside of Toronto's University Theatre for Return of the Jedi

6 of 21 George Widman/AP

May 23, 1983: Philadelphia's Boyd Theatre played host to hundreds of Star Wars fans who lined up ahead of Return of the Jedi

7 of 21 Damian Strohmeyer/ The Denver Post via Getty Images

May 26, 1983: 20th Century Fox owner Marvin Davis and his wife Barbara Davis meet fans at Denver's premiere of The Return of the Jedi.

8 of 21 Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images

May 6, 1999: Fans line up outside of New York City's Ziegfeld Theatre for The Phantom Menace

9 of 21 Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images

May 6, 1999: Fans line up outside of New York City's Ziegfeld Theatre for The Phantom Menace

10 of 21 Vince Bucci/AFP/Getty Images

May 12, 1999: Costumed fans get ready for The Phantom Menace at Hollywood's Mann's Chinese Theatre

11 of 21 Mario Tama/AFP/Getty Images

May 12, 1999: A Star Wars fan readies her Princess Leia buns before buying Phantom Menace tickets at Washington, D.C.'s Uptown Theater

12 of 21 Lawrence Lucier/Getty Images

April 27, 2002: Star Wars enthusiasts line up for the New York City premiere of Attack of the Clones

13 of 21 Lawrence Lucier/Getty Images

April 27, 2002: A young fan dressed as Queen Amidala gets ready for the New York City premiere of Attack of the Clones

14 of 21 Mike Nelson/AFP/Getty Images

April 11, 2002: An actor dressed as Darth Maul welcomes fans ahead of the Attack of the Clones premiere at Hollywood's Mann's Chinese Theater

15 of 21 Tim Matsui/Getty Images

January 9, 2002: A particularly enthusastic fan lines up far in advance for Attack of the Clones outside of Seattle's Cinerama Theater

16 of 21 David McNew/Getty Images

May 16, 2002: Fans camp out for Attack of the Clones outside of Newport Beach's Edwards Newport Cinema

17 of 21 Mike Fanous/ Gamma via Getty Images

May 19, 2005: A Star Wars fan dressed up as Darth Vader gets ready for Revenge of the Sith at Hollywood's Mann's Chinese Theatre

18 of 21 Mike Fanous/ Gamma via Getty Images

May 19, 2005: A Star Wars fan dressed up as Princess Leia gets ready for Revenge of the Sith at Hollywood's Mann's Chinese Theatre

19 of 21 Hector Mata/AFP/Getty Images

April 13, 2005: Star Wars fans line up days in advance for Revenge of the Sith outside of Hollywood's Mann's Chinese Theater

20 of 21 Hector Mata/AFP/Getty Images

April 13, 2005: Star Wars fans line up days in advance for Revenge of the Sith outside of Hollywood's Mann's Chinese Theater

21 of 21 Damian Dovarganes/AP

See Decades of 'Star Wars' Mania, Then and Now

'Star Wars' Mania, Then and Now

June 7, 1977: Fans line up outside of Los Angeles' Avco Center Theater for Star Wars

May 22, 1980: Moviegoers line up for a screening of The Empire Strikes Back

May 22, 1980: A fan waits to buy tickets to The Empire Strikes Back at Denver's Cooper Theater.

May 25, 1983: Fans numbering in the hundreds line up outside of Toronto's University Theatre for Return of the Jedi

May 23, 1983: Philadelphia's Boyd Theatre played host to hundreds of Star Wars fans who lined up ahead of Return of the Jedi

May 26, 1983: 20th Century Fox owner Marvin Davis and his wife Barbara Davis meet fans at Denver's premiere of The Return of the Jedi.

May 6, 1999: Fans line up outside of New York City's Ziegfeld Theatre for The Phantom Menace

May 6, 1999: Fans line up outside of New York City's Ziegfeld Theatre for The Phantom Menace

May 12, 1999: Costumed fans get ready for The Phantom Menace at Hollywood's Mann's Chinese Theatre

May 12, 1999: A Star Wars fan readies her Princess Leia buns before buying Phantom Menace tickets at Washington, D.C.'s Uptown Theater

April 27, 2002: Star Wars enthusiasts line up for the New York City premiere of Attack of the Clones

April 27, 2002: A young fan dressed as Queen Amidala gets ready for the New York City premiere of Attack of the Clones

April 11, 2002: An actor dressed as Darth Maul welcomes fans ahead of the Attack of the Clones premiere at Hollywood's Mann's Chinese Theater

January 9, 2002: A particularly enthusastic fan lines up far in advance for Attack of the Clones outside of Seattle's Cinerama Theater

May 16, 2002: Fans camp out for Attack of the Clones outside of Newport Beach's Edwards Newport Cinema

May 19, 2005: A Star Wars fan dressed up as Darth Vader gets ready for Revenge of the Sith at Hollywood's Mann's Chinese Theatre

May 19, 2005: A Star Wars fan dressed up as Princess Leia gets ready for Revenge of the Sith at Hollywood's Mann's Chinese Theatre

April 13, 2005: Star Wars fans line up days in advance for Revenge of the Sith outside of Hollywood's Mann's Chinese Theater

April 13, 2005: Star Wars fans line up days in advance for Revenge of the Sith outside of Hollywood's Mann's Chinese Theater

December 9, 2015: Star Wars fans get ready for the premiere of The Force Awakens outside of Hollywood's TCL Chinese Theater

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See Decades of 'Star Wars' Mania, Then and Now

'Star Wars' Mania, Then and Now

June 7, 1977: Fans line up outside of Los Angeles' Avco Center Theater for Star Wars

May 22, 1980: Moviegoers line up for a screening of The Empire Strikes Back

May 22, 1980: A fan waits to buy tickets to The Empire Strikes Back at Denver's Cooper Theater.

May 25, 1983: Fans numbering in the hundreds line up outside of Toronto's University Theatre for Return of the Jedi

May 23, 1983: Philadelphia's Boyd Theatre played host to hundreds of Star Wars fans who lined up ahead of Return of the Jedi

May 26, 1983: 20th Century Fox owner Marvin Davis and his wife Barbara Davis meet fans at Denver's premiere of The Return of the Jedi.

May 6, 1999: Fans line up outside of New York City's Ziegfeld Theatre for The Phantom Menace

May 6, 1999: Fans line up outside of New York City's Ziegfeld Theatre for The Phantom Menace

May 12, 1999: Costumed fans get ready for The Phantom Menace at Hollywood's Mann's Chinese Theatre

May 12, 1999: A Star Wars fan readies her Princess Leia buns before buying Phantom Menace tickets at Washington, D.C.'s Uptown Theater

April 27, 2002: Star Wars enthusiasts line up for the New York City premiere of Attack of the Clones

April 27, 2002: A young fan dressed as Queen Amidala gets ready for the New York City premiere of Attack of the Clones

April 11, 2002: An actor dressed as Darth Maul welcomes fans ahead of the Attack of the Clones premiere at Hollywood's Mann's Chinese Theater

January 9, 2002: A particularly enthusastic fan lines up far in advance for Attack of the Clones outside of Seattle's Cinerama Theater

May 16, 2002: Fans camp out for Attack of the Clones outside of Newport Beach's Edwards Newport Cinema

May 19, 2005: A Star Wars fan dressed up as Darth Vader gets ready for Revenge of the Sith at Hollywood's Mann's Chinese Theatre

May 19, 2005: A Star Wars fan dressed up as Princess Leia gets ready for Revenge of the Sith at Hollywood's Mann's Chinese Theatre

April 13, 2005: Star Wars fans line up days in advance for Revenge of the Sith outside of Hollywood's Mann's Chinese Theater

April 13, 2005: Star Wars fans line up days in advance for Revenge of the Sith outside of Hollywood's Mann's Chinese Theater

December 9, 2015: Star Wars fans get ready for the premiere of The Force Awakens outside of Hollywood's TCL Chinese Theater

You May Like

Read More

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