Star Wars: The Digital Movie Collection for the first time ever on digital HD, with new bonus extras. Star Wars was released theatrically in the United States on May 25, 1977. It earned $461 million in the US and $314 million overseas, totaling $775 million. It surpassed Jaws (1975) to become the highest-grossing film of all time; its gross was later surpassed by that of E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982). From 1977 to 2005, there were six Star Wars films released in theaters.For better or worse, each was an event; all but one was the highest-grossing movie the year it came out (Attack of the Clones.
While the world waits for the next entries in the Star Wars saga (Episode VII on December 18th, followed by the Rogue One spinoff next year and Episode VIII in 2017), Disney, Fox and Lucasfilm.
A long time ago, the original Star Wars movies were sold on laser disc and VHS; later came DVD and Blu-Ray. But you've never been able to download them (at least, not legally).
That changes on Friday, when Lucasfilm, Disney and Fox are making all six Star Wars movies available as high-definition digital downloads at last — alongside a whole host of extra content, much of it based on long-lost interview tapes from the archives.
See also: R2-D2 meets the love of his life in this adorable short film
'Star Wars: The Digital Movie Collection' arrives April 10 on a variety of platforms: Apple's iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, Vudu, Xbox video, Verizon FiOS and Disney's own Movies Anywhere service. No word on pricing yet, but you'll be able to download them individually or as a package. The news was announced with an ad during the NCAA final game.
And yes, these are the versions of the original trilogy with the controversial CGI enhancements added in 1997 and after. (The final, official, definitive version as far as Lucasfilm is concerned is the one that was on the Blu-Ray.)
“We’re thrilled that fans will be able to enjoy the Star Wars Saga on their digital devices wherever they go,' Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy said in a statement. “These films broke new ground in technology, design, sound, and visual effects, and we’ve created some very special bonus material which delves into the saga’s rich history.'
Raiders of the lost tapes
Perhaps the most fascinating part of the downloads for Star Wars fans: the 'Conversations' feature, which lets us listen to interviews conducted with the cast and crew back in 1977 by the movie's marketing manager, Charley Lippincott.
The historic tapes went unused at the time, and were thought to be lost for decades — until Lucasfilm editor J.W. Rinzler located them in the Skywalker Ranch archives when he was researching his 2008 book The Making of Star Wars — along with acres of footage from the set itself.
'It was like the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark,' Rinzler recalls of the experience of finding the boxes of tapes and transcripts, lost amid thousands of other boxes in the archives.
'George [Lucas] keeps everything. He's always been interested in documenting his films; it's the anthropology side of him. Unlike most filmmakers at the time, George had somebody there [on set] with a 16mm camera.'
To whet your appetite, here's a 1977 interview with Anthony Daniels, the man inside the golden droid C-3PO, explaining the many problems with that costume:
Star Wars has been available for download in the darker corners of the Internet for some time, including in various high-quality, fan-made 'Despecialized' editions with Lucas' 1997 CGI material stripped out.
Will the historic extra material encourage fans to download the movie by legal means? Lucasfilm certainly hopes so. 'As long as there are Star Wars films,' says Rinzler, 'there’s going to be a need to look back.'
Here's the complete list of features available with each movie:
STAR WARS EPISODE I: The Phantom Menace
Conversations: Doug Chiang Looks Back
Discoveries From Inside: Models & Miniatures
Legacy content includes “The Beginning”; The Podrace: Theatrical Edit; plus eight deleted scenes.
STAR WARS EPISODE II: Attack of the Clones
Conversations: Sounds In Space
Discoveries From Inside: Costumes Revealed
Legacy content includes “From Puppets To Pixels: Digital Characters In Episode II”; State Of The Art: The Previsualization Of Episode II; and “Films Are Not Released, They Escape”; plus Episode II Visual Effects Breakdown Montage and six deleted scenes.
STAR WARS EPISODE III: Revenge of the Sith
Conversations: The Star Wars That Almost Was
Discoveries From Inside: Hologram & Bloopers
Legacy content includes documentaries “Within A Minute: The Making Of Episode III”; The Journey Part 1; and The Journey Part 2; plus six deleted scenes.
STAR WARS EPISODE IV: A New Hope (20th Century Fox)
Conversations: Creating A Universe
Discoveries From Inside: Weapons & The First Lightsaber
Legacy content includes “Anatomy Of A Dewback”; Star Wars Launch Trailer; plus eight deleted scenes.
STAR WARS EPISODE V: The Empire Strikes Back
Conversations: The Lost Interviews
Discoveries From Inside: Matte Paintings Unveiled
Legacy content includes “A Conversation With The Masters” (2010); “Dennis Muren: How Walkers Walk”; “George Lucas On Editing The Empire Strikes Back 1979”; and “George Lucas On The Force: 2010”; plus six deleted scenes.
STAR WARS EPISODE VI: Return of the Jedi
Conversations: The Effects
Download Star Wars Movies Online
Discoveries From Inside: The Sounds Of Ben Burtt
Legacy content includes “Classic Creatures: Return Of The Jedi”; “Revenge Of The Jedi Teaser Trailer”; Return Of The Jedi Launch Trailer; “It Began TV Spot”; “Climactic Chapter TV Spot”; plus five deleted scenes.
Download All Star Wars Movies
The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website:
Download Star Wars Movies Mp4
We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking “I agree” below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service.