The statistic presents data on the share of adults who have seen Star Wars in the United States as of December 2017, sorted by age group. During the survey, ** percent of respondents aged 18 to 29 stated that they had seen the Star Wars movie "Episode IV: A New Hope".

This statistic shows the share of adults who are fans of Star Wars in the United States as of July 2019, separated by gender. During the survey, ** percent of male respondents stated that they were avid fans of Star Wars compared to just ** percent of females.

The statistic shows the opening weekend audience distribution of Star Wars: The Last Jedi in North America in 2017, by age. According to the source, approximately ** percent of the audience was aged 17 to 25.

Context

This file contains data behind the story America’s Favorite ‘Star Wars’ Movies (And Least Favorite Characters)1. The author collected the data by running a poll through SurveyMonkey Audience, surveying 1,186 respondents

Content

. The description of the questions asked in the survey is given below.

• Have you seen any of the 6 films in the Star Wars franchise?

• Do you consider yourself to be a fan of the Star Wars film franchise?

• Which of the following Star Wars films have you seen? Please select all that apply. (Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace; Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones; Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith; Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope; Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back; Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi)

• Please rank the Star Wars films in order of preference with 1 being your favorite film in the franchise and 6 being your least favorite film. (Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace; Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones; Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith; Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope; Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back; Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi)

• Please state whether you view the following characters favorably, unfavorably, or are unfamiliar with him/her. (Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia Organa, Anakin Skywalker, Obi Wan Kenobi, Emperor Palpatine, Darth Vader, Lando Calrissian, Boba Fett, C-3P0, R2-D2, Jar Jar Binks, Padme Amidala, Yoda)

• Which character shot first?

• Are you familiar with the Expanded Universe?

• Do you consider yourself to be a fan of the Expanded Universe?

• Do you consider yourself to be a fan of the Star Trek franchise?

• Gender

• Age

• Household Income

• Education

• Location (Census Region

Inspiration

The questions in the survey can be divided into two parts:

• One is about people’s attitude or opinion about Start War movies. • The other is about people’s demographics

Build a classifier (or some classifiers, for example one classifier per demographic feature), which can classify people’s demographics (gender, age, household income, education, location (census region)) based on their attitude or opinion about Star War movies.

The statistic shows the audience distribution of Star Wars: The Last Jedi in the United States in 2017, by age. According to the source, approximately ** percent of the audience was aged 25 to 34.

The statistic shows the opening weekend audience distribution of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in North America in 2015, by age group. According to the source, approximately ** percent of the audience for the movie was over the age of **.

This statistic shows the share of adults who are fans of Star Wars in the United States as of July 2019, separated by age group. During the survey, only 37 percent of respondents aged 30 to 44 stated that they were not fans of Star Wars.

According to a 2017 study, ** percent of surveyed adults in the United States said that they had seen the 1983 movie ‘Return of the Jedi’, whereas just ** percent said that they had watched ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’, which was released in 2016. The movie franchise first reared its head with ‘Episode IV: A New Hope’ back in 1977 and further films have been steadily hitting cinema screens ever since, albeit nonchronologically.

Star Wars

Star Wars is arguably one of the more confusing franchises out there when it comes to grasping the order of things, especially among those who aren’t fans of the movies. The ‘first’ movie in the story is ‘Episode I: A Phantom Menace’, released in 1999 – 22 years after ‘A New Hope’ (the sixth instalment of the series in terms of story structure).

The movies have traditionally performed well at the North American box office. ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ generated over *** million U.S. dollars in box office revenue, and as yet there is not a single movie in the franchise to have made less than *** million. This is good news as ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’, ‘The Force Awakens’ and ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ all cost well in excess of that amount to make, placing them in the ranking of most expensive film productions in the world.

Beyond the movies

Star Wars is not just about the movies, but as one of the world’s highest grossing film franchises the influence Star Wars has had outside the movie theater is inevitably impressive. From collectible figures to children’s toys and fancy-dress costumes to video games, Star Wars has permeated industries around the world. In the United States, iconic Star Wars characters Yoda and Princess Leia were the favorites, both of which have become famous in their own right and have been referred to, imitated and turned into merchandise multiple times over since they first entered the public consciousness.

Movie Merchandise Market Outlook

The global movie merchandise market size was valued at USD 47 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 69 billion by 2032, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.3% during the forecast period. The market is primarily driven by the increasing popularity of blockbuster movies and franchises, the growing trend of fandom culture, and the rising disposable income of consumers globally. Additionally, advancements in e-commerce platforms and a surge in the number of online shoppers have significantly contributed to the market's growth.

The growing appeal of blockbuster franchises, such as Marvel, Star Wars, and Harry Potter, has significantly spurred the demand for movie merchandise. These franchises have garnered a global fanbase that eagerly consumes a wide range of merchandise, from apparel and toys to collectibles and home decor. The enormous success of these movies not only generates substantial box office revenue but also creates a lucrative market for related products. Moreover, the advent of streaming services and the widespread distribution of content have made these franchises more accessible, thereby further driving merchandise sales.

Another key growth factor for the movie merchandise market is the increasing disposable income of consumers, particularly in emerging economies. As people have more money to spend on non-essential items, the demand for movie-related merchandise has surged. This trend is especially prevalent among younger demographics who are more inclined towards purchasing items that allow them to express their fandom. Additionally, advancements in manufacturing technologies have made it easier and more cost-effective to produce high-quality merchandise, thereby attracting more consumers.

The rise of e-commerce platforms has also played a crucial role in the market's growth. With the increasing number of internet users and the convenience of online shopping, consumers are more inclined to purchase movie merchandise through online stores. E-commerce platforms offer a wider variety of products and competitive pricing, making it easier for consumers to find and purchase their desired items. Furthermore, the use of social media and digital marketing strategies has helped brands to reach a larger audience, thereby driving sales.

Product And Brand Licensing plays a pivotal role in the movie merchandise market, acting as a bridge between the entertainment industry and consumer products. By allowing companies to use popular movie characters and logos, licensing agreements enable the creation of a wide array of merchandise that resonates with fans. This not only enhances the brand's visibility but also generates additional revenue streams for both the licensors and licensees. The strategic partnerships formed through licensing can lead to innovative product offerings, ensuring that fans have access to high-quality and authentic merchandise. As the demand for movie-themed products continues to rise, effective licensing strategies become crucial for capitalizing on the market's growth potential.

Regionally, North America and Europe have traditionally been the dominant markets for movie merchandise, owing to the high concentration of movie studios and a large consumer base. However, Asia Pacific is emerging as a significant market due to the increasing popularity of Western films and the growing disposable income of consumers in countries like China and India. The Middle East and Africa, and Latin America are also showing promising growth, although they currently hold a smaller market share compared to other regions.

Product Type Analysis

The movie merchandise market can be segmented by product type into apparel, toys, accessories, home decor, collectibles, and others. Among these, apparel is one of the most popular categories, driven by the demand for t-shirts, hoodies, and other clothing items featuring iconic characters and quotes from popular movies. The apparel segment benefits from its broad appeal across different age groups and the ease of integrating movie themes into everyday wear. Innovative designs and collaborations with fashion brands further boost the segment's growth.

The toys segment is another significant category, especially popular among children and collectors. Action figures, dolls, and playsets based on popular movie characters are highly sought after. The continuous release of new movie franch

In the United States, around ** percent of adults aged 18 to 34 have seen one or more of the films from Marvel’s ‘The Avengers’ series. This viewership share is not surprising given that all of the currently released Avengers films rank among the top ten movies of all time in terms of box office revenue. The Marvel Cinematic Universe The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) encompasses the Avengers movies, 18 other superhero films, multiple television series’, short films, and, of course, comic books. MCU is the highest grossing film franchise of all time, with its box office revenues dwarfing those of other top franchises like Star Wars, Harry Potter and James Bond. Single film box office revenues in the billions have almost become the norm for the franchise, and numerous further films and projects are already in the works. The Walt Disney Company Marvel Entertainment is a subsidiary of massive entertainment industry conglomerate The Walt Disney Company. Disney, also well-known for its appeal to younger audiences, ranks among the most valuable brands in the world, and its other subsidiary companies include major film studios such as Pixar, Lucasfilm and 20th Century Fox, as well as television networks like the Disney Channel, ESPN and FX.

As of early 2024, "Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens" (2015) remained the most successful Star Wars movie in the United States and Canada based on box office revenue. The seventh installment of the franchise grossed more than 936 million U.S. dollars, whereas the most recent release, "Star Wars: Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker" (2019), ranked fourth at around 515 million dollars.

The Star Wars financial empire

Star Wars is one of the most successful multimedia franchises in cinematic history. Ever since the release of "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope" in 1997, millions of viewers have flocked to the cinema to see their favorite characters in action. More than four decades, nine star-studded films, and a variety of prequels, sequels, and spin-offs later, the Star Wars multiverse ranks among the two highest-grossing movie franchises worldwide, with global box office takings of around 10.33 billion U.S. dollars. As of 2023, the science-fiction saga's seventh installment also maintained its spot among the five most profitable movies of all time.

The age of rising production costs

It is safe to say that visual innovation, special effects, and a high overall production standard are some of the main appeals of blockbuster movie franchises such as Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Unsurprisingly, this strive for visual and technological excellence is also reflected in production budgets. Data on the production costs of Star Wars movies showed that the filming of "Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi" (2017) had cost an impressive 317 million U.S. dollars. Meanwhile, the production costs of "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" (2011) reached nearly 380 million, making it the most expensive film production worldwide.

In the film’s opening weekend, African Americans accounted for around ** percent of all ticket buyers for Marvel’s ‘Black Panther’. Although the film was eagerly anticipated by all audiences, African American movie fans were particularly interested in the film beforehand due to its casting decisions and its commentary on social justice. Only ** percent of African-Americans stated that they never planned to watch the film.

What is ‘Black Panther’?

‘Black Panther’ is a superhero film which takes place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and follows main character T’Challa whilst addressing themes such as institutional bias and oppression. African American consumers were especially keen to see the movie as a result of the amount of black cast members, with ** percent citing this as a reason for watching the movie. The actors and actresses excelled in their respective roles and the film came away with ***** Academy Award nominations, marking the first time that a superhero movie was nominated for Best Picture.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) mentioned above encompasses ‘Black Panther’ as well as the four ‘Avengers’ films, around ** other individual superhero films, multiple television series, short films and comic books. MCU is the highest grossing film franchise of all time, with its box office revenues dwarfing those of other top franchises like Star Wars, Harry Potter and James Bond. Box office revenue for a single Marvel film frequently approaches or surpasses the billion dollar mark, and numerous further potentially lucrative films and projects are already in the works.

As of June 2023, “Loki” was the most popular Marvel show on Disney+, with an estimated 2.5 million households watching the series premiere within its first five days. The latest addition to the Marvel repertoire on Disney+, “Secret Invasion,” drew around 990,000 viewers.

The crown jewel of Disney Plus

Walt Disney’s acquisition of Marvel Entertainment not only cemented its position as the most powerful media conglomerate in Hollywood, but also helped pave the way for the company’s success in the streaming realm. By having exclusive streaming rights to the MCU, the highest-grossing movie franchise worldwide, Disney+ can set itself apart from other established competitors such as Netflix. And while many viewers use the service for Disney’s original programming, a large share of surveyed viewers also stated that they subscribed to the service predominantly or exclusively because of its Marvel content.

Disney’s other gems

But which titles draw viewers to the service, other than Marvel? Another major selling point of the platform is its vast and ever-expanding catalog of Star Wars content. Not only do titles from the cult franchise rank among the highest-grossing movies of all time, but as the House of Mouse continues to expand the Star Wars universe at lightning speed, original productions like “The Mandalorian” or “The Book of Boba Fett” are quickly becoming some of the platform’s most sought-after titles.

The source estimated that, in 2022, the value of the global animation market would amount to over 391 billion U.S. dollars, up five percent from 372.4 billion dollars a year earlier. The annual figure was forecast to continue to grow throughout the decade, surpassing 587 billion dollars by 2030. Highest-grossing animated movies As of mid-2022, the top-grossing animations in the history of Canada and the United States – collectively known as the North American cinema market – were popular titles worldwide. "Incredibles 2" (2018), "The Lion King" (2019), and "Finding Dory" (2016) led the ranking, with box office revenues of around 609 million, 544 million, and 486 million dollars, respectively. Disney is the studio behind the three titles, with the first and third-placed productions also featuring the signature of Pixar, acquired by Disney in 2006. Beloved animated franchises Only four animated film series were among the top 20 highest-grossing movie franchises worldwide as of June 2022. They were "Despicable Me," "Shrek" (both under the Universal umbrella), "Ice Age," and "Toy Story" (both part of Disney's catalog today). However, an online survey conducted in May 2022 showed that Pixar was the film franchise most adults in the U.S. approved of: almost three out of four respondents said they were at least somewhat favorable to the animation studio's movies, surpassing "Star Wars," the "Marvel Cinematic Universe," and "Jurassic World."