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

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

By Madeline Boardman
Updated December 14, 2015 at 02:16 PM EST
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'Star Wars' Mania, Then and Now

Credit: Getty Images; AP

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.

 

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

Credit: AP

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

Credit: John J. Sunderland/ Denver Post via Getty Images

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

Credit: John J. Sunderland/ Denver Post via Getty Images

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

Credit: Toronto Star via Getty Images

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

Credit: George Widman/AP

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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.

Credit: Damian Strohmeyer/ The Denver Post via Getty Images

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

Credit: Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images

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

Credit: Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images

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

Credit: Vince Bucci/AFP/Getty Images

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

Credit: Mario Tama/AFP/Getty Images

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

Credit: Lawrence Lucier/Getty Images

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

Credit: Lawrence Lucier/Getty Images

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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

Credit: Mike Nelson/AFP/Getty Images

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

Credit: Tim Matsui/Getty Images

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

Credit: David McNew/Getty Images

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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

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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

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

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

Credit: Hector Mata/AFP/Getty Images

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

Credit: Damian Dovarganes/AP

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1 of 21 'Star Wars' Mania, Then and Now
2 of 21 June 7, 1977: Fans line up outside of Los Angeles' Avco Center Theater for Star Wars
3 of 21 May 22, 1980: Moviegoers line up for a screening of The Empire Strikes Back
4 of 21 May 22, 1980: A fan waits to buy tickets to The Empire Strikes Back at Denver's Cooper Theater.
5 of 21 May 25, 1983: Fans numbering in the hundreds line up outside of Toronto's University Theatre for Return of the Jedi
6 of 21 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 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 May 6, 1999: Fans line up outside of New York City's Ziegfeld Theatre for The Phantom Menace
9 of 21 May 6, 1999: Fans line up outside of New York City's Ziegfeld Theatre for The Phantom Menace
10 of 21 May 12, 1999: Costumed fans get ready for The Phantom Menace at Hollywood's Mann's Chinese Theatre
11 of 21 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 April 27, 2002: Star Wars enthusiasts line up for the New York City premiere of Attack of the Clones
13 of 21 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 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 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 May 16, 2002: Fans camp out for Attack of the Clones outside of Newport Beach's Edwards Newport Cinema
17 of 21 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 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 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 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 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
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