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'Star Wars: The Force Awakens': The series brings multiple generations together

Since the original movie came out in 1977, the movies have gained only more fans. 

Names like Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader have became an inextricable part of our pop culture since the first movie was released in 1977.

But the films in which they appeared, aren't just remembered by those who are old enough to have seen them in theaters. Today, the 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� movies are bringing multiple generations together with the love of a single story, from those who first saw Luke and Leia on the big screen in the 1970s to those who may not even have been old enough to see the 2000s prequel 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� movies in theaters but still know and love the films.

鈥淪tar Wars: The Force Awakens,鈥� which is now in theaters, takes place after 1983's 鈥淪tar Wars: Episode VI 鈥� Return of the Jedi鈥� and centers on characters including scavenger Rey (Daisy Ridley), who hails from the desert planet of Jakku; Finn (John Boyega), who serves as a Stormtrooper and is desperate to escape; and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), a skilled pilot.

鈥淔orce鈥� also features such actors from the 1970s and 鈥�80s films as Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill, who are returning to the series for the first time.

The 鈥減requel鈥� film trilogy, which is comprised of 1999鈥檚 鈥淪tar Wars: Episode I 鈥� The Phantom Menace,鈥� 2002鈥檚 鈥淪tar Wars: Episode II 鈥� Attack of the Clones,鈥� and 2005鈥檚 鈥淪tar Wars: Episode III 鈥� Revenge of the Sith,鈥� are much-maligned, but it鈥檚 conceivable that a Millennial who saw those, and only those, movies in theaters might have a fond memory of certain aspects of the films. But at a recent marathon screening of all six 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� movies, the screening of the three prequel films were met with mostly silence, with occasional chuckles at a particularly cheesy line.

By contrast, attendees of all ages cheered as one of the original movies started and clapped at character entrances and favorite lines.

鈥淪tar Wars鈥� fan Brendan O鈥橪eary says he saw 鈥淧hantom鈥� in theaters and was young enough that he remembers watching parts of the film with his coat over his head because of scary moments. Despite the fright, it was enough to get him hooked.聽

鈥淭hat started me and I just kind of went from there,鈥� Leary says.聽

Krista Carmichael was a child when the original trilogy was released in theaters and says she has seen even many young fans coming aboard lately. It's a trend she attributes to the animated TV series "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" that aired on Cartoon Network and Netflix from 2008 to 2014.

"This gave an opportunity for a younger audience to be exposed to the universe ... it's multi-generational," she says of the franchise's fans.

Meanwhile, both Corey Handy and Caitlin Elliott say they can't even remember the age they first saw the original "Star Wars" movies 鈥� they鈥檝e just always had 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� as a presence in their lives.聽

For Handy, it was a family fandom 鈥� his father also enjoyed the films. The first movie he was old enough to see in theaters was 鈥淪ith.鈥澛�

Handy says the movies are very familiar to his friends despite the fact that they were born more than a decade after 鈥淛edi鈥� was released.

鈥淓verybody knows 'Star Wars,鈥欌�� Handy says.聽

Now, he says, he鈥檚 excited for 鈥淔orce,鈥� the beginning of the first 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� series that will be a part of his age group鈥檚 filmgoing experience.聽

鈥淏ig fan of J.J. Abrams,鈥� Handy says of the movie鈥檚 director. 鈥淚 believe in his ability.鈥�