How Star Wars kick-started modern toy collecting

While the film was a massive hit, toy cos showed little interest in taking on a Star Wars product

On 25 May, 1977 Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope opened in movie theatres across America. The now iconic science fiction film has lasted the test of time, spawning two sequels – Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983) – a prequel trilogy between 1999 and 2005; a sequel trilogy beginning in 2015, and further spin-off movies, too.

Centred around the “long time ago” adventures of an adolescent farmer, a reckless smuggler and a strong-willed princess, the