海角大神

鈥淪tar Wars鈥� is a movie franchise currently on top of the world, after its newest entry 鈥� the seventh film in the series, 鈥淪tar Wars: The Force Awakens鈥� 鈥� became the highest-grossing movie of all time (domestically without adjusting for inflation) and was well-received by critics.聽

With the success of its newest film, 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� becomes the newest Hollywood franchise to reinvent itself and recover after some less-than-stellar installments. 聽

鈥淪tar Wars鈥� established itself in the late 1970s and early 鈥�80s with the original trilogy, which ended in 1983 with 鈥淪tar Wars: Episode VI 鈥� Return of the Jedi.鈥� More than a decade would pass before director George Lucas would release the first of the prequels, which explored the past of legendary screen villain Darth Vader.聽

But all three movies, which were released in the late 1990s and mid-2000s, were poorly received by reviewers (though the final chapter, 鈥淪tar Wars: Episode III 鈥� Revenge of the Sith,鈥� received better reviews than its predecessors).聽

鈥淭he film has a broader range of emotions and visual effects than any installment since 鈥楾he Empire Strikes Back,鈥欌�� 海角大神's film critic David Sterritt wrote of "Star Wars: Episode II 鈥� Attack of the Clones." 鈥淏ut the writing and acting are as stiff as R2-D2's metal torso. If clones are so scary, why does Lucas keep cloning pop-culture clich茅s he's latched onto from other films, including his own?"聽

So director J.J. Abrams had to win back many fans and meet high expectations when he took on the task of helming 鈥淔orce,鈥� which jumped forward to take place after all of the 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� movies released so far.聽

鈥淛.J. is terrified,鈥� director Steven Spielberg said in prior to the release of 鈥淔orce.鈥�

But 鈥淔orce鈥� became a success and anticipation is now high for the upcoming 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� films (none of which will currently be directed by Mr. Abrams).

How did 鈥淔orce鈥� do so well? writes, 鈥淚t features great visuals, snappy dialogue, and a likeable cast of young actors,鈥� with fantasy and science fiction fantasy editor John Joseph Adams telling 聽of "Force," "I enjoyed 'Star Wars' for the first time in a long time, whereas after the prequels I wasn鈥檛 sure that I ever would again."

There were some 'Star Wars' fans who weren't won over, of course, with some criticism centering especially on the similarities between "Force" and the first "Star Wars" film, "Star Wars: Episode IV 鈥� A New Hope."

As for Hollywood in general, some franchises have also successfully reinvented themselves, while others have not. But given how often Hollywood has attempted to resurrect past successes, however, it demonstrates that no once-beloved property seems to ever be fully finished.

Abrams also revived another loved-but-downtrodden sci-fi franchise: Star Trek. He took on the task of directing 2009鈥檚 鈥淪tar Trek,鈥� taking charge of a franchise that had seen diminishing returns (the films released prior to the 2009 movie, 1998鈥檚 鈥淪tar Trek: Insurrection鈥� and 2002鈥檚 鈥淪tar Trek: Nemesis,鈥� were two of the lowest-grossing films in the series). writer Dave Itzkoff noted that the 2009 film was an 鈥渁ttempt to rejuvenate the decades-old space adventure franchise.鈥�

The movie successfully did so, with the film receiving good reviews and becoming one of the highest-grossing movies of the year. 2013鈥檚 sequel, 鈥淪tar Trek Into Darkness,鈥� also did well, though it grossed less than the first and was slightly less well-received by critics. A new film is planned for this summer.

2015 saw another franchise come back besides 鈥淪tar Wars.鈥� After the tepidly received 2001 movie 鈥淛urassic Park III,鈥� the dinosaur series didn鈥檛 appear in theaters for years. While critics didn鈥檛 love this past summer鈥檚 鈥淛urassic World,鈥� audiences did, and the movie became the second-highest-grossing film of the year (behind only 鈥淔orce鈥�). A sequel is set for 2018.

These reinventions don鈥檛 always work as well financially, of course. A 2015 鈥淭erminator鈥� movie, 鈥淭erminator Genisys,鈥� didn鈥檛 hit with critics or fans and was largely seen as a misfire in the US, though it did perform better overseas.

And the global audience now opens up hope for franchise films that don't resonate with a US audience.

Skydance Media Chief Creative Officer Dana Goldberg said of future 鈥淭erminator鈥� plans, 鈥淒o we intend to have a next step of Terminator? Yes, we do,鈥� . 鈥淗appily, we live in the world where the domestic number had a level of importance 10 or 15 years ago 鈥� I鈥檓 not saying it鈥檚 not important, it is 鈥� but we have to play to a worldwide market. In terms of 鈥楾erminator,鈥� the worldwide market paid attention, but we鈥檙e not taking the domestic number lightly.鈥�