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

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'Star Wars' Mania, Then and Now

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

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

John J. Sunderland/ Denver Post via Getty Images

Continued on next slide.

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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

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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

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

George Widman/AP

Continued on next slide.

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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.

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

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

Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images

Continued on next slide.

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

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

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

Lawrence Lucier/Getty Images

Continued on next slide.

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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

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

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

Tim Matsui/Getty Images

Continued on next slide.

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

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

Mike Fanous/ Gamma via Getty Images

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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

Mike Fanous/ Gamma via Getty Images

Continued on next slide.

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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

Hector Mata/AFP/Getty Images

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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

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

Damian Dovarganes/AP

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Account

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

1 of 22

'Star Wars' Mania, Then and Now

1 of 22

2 of 22

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

2 of 22

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

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

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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

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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

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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.

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

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

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

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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

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

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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

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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

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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

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

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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

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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

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