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鈥淪isters鈥� is the ultimate in counter-programming.

While a movie that probably sounds vaguely familiar to you, 鈥淪tar Wars: The Force Awakens,鈥� arrived at the box office on Dec. 18, another movie opened, too 鈥� the film 鈥淪isters,鈥� which stars Amy Poehler and Tina Fey.

In the movie, the two siblings resolve to throw a party at their parents鈥� house before it鈥檚 sold. Ike Barinholtz, James Brolin, Maya Rudolph, and Dianne Wiest, among many others, co-star.

The film dared to open on a weekend when most other films just got out of the way of the 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� juggernaut.聽

But beyond its release date, the movie also exemplifies how graduates of 鈥淪aturday Night Live鈥� continue to be forces (sorry, 鈥淪tar Wars鈥�) at the multiplex.聽

Once they've appeared on "SNL," these stars arrive in movies with name recognition, and movie executives no doubt want to attempt to capitalize on the popularity of a certain personality. Starring on "SNL" has given these actors an opportunity to showcase their versatility as well.

It鈥檚 a tradition that began just about when the show did (40 years ago), as original 鈥淪NL鈥� players like Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, and John Belushi headed out to movie stardom with films like the 鈥淣ational Lampoon鈥� series, 鈥淐addyshack,鈥� 鈥淭he Blues Brothers,鈥� and the 鈥淕hostbusters鈥� movies.聽

Cast members such as Eddie Murphy ("Beverly Hills Cop," to name only one), David Spade, and Chris Farley continued the tradition.

Not all of the efforts have succeeded. More recent efforts to bring 鈥淪NL鈥� characters to the big screen, in particular, have a tough track record, with efforts like 鈥淪uperstar鈥� and 鈥淢acGruber鈥� having failed to catch the public imagination.

But some of the highest-grossing comedies of the last decades have come with 鈥淪NL鈥� stars on the poster. Will Ferrell was a member of the 鈥渇rat pack,鈥� a group of male comedians that dominated early 鈥� to mid-2000s film comedy, and he and other members of this group starred in such successful movies as 鈥淎nchorman,鈥� 鈥淥ld School,鈥� and 鈥淓lf.鈥�

Mike Myers and Dana Carvey starred in the hit movie "Wayne's World" and Myers' "Austin Powers" series became extremely popular.

And 鈥淪NL鈥� stars sparked a conversation with their movie when Kristen Wiig and Rudolph starred in the 2011 comedy film 鈥淏ridesmaids,鈥� which became a big box office hit and led to discussion over female-led funny films.聽

The tradition shows no sign of stopping. The highly anticipated new 鈥淕hostbusters鈥� movie, which originally starred 鈥淪NL鈥� alumni like Murray and Aykroyd, will focus on former 鈥淪NL鈥� cast member Wiig and current stars Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones as well as Melissa McCarthy. That will be released the summer of 2016.聽