SOUTH CAROLINA

• Anderson – Plitt ANDERSON MALL
• Charleston – General Cinema CITADEL MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV-V-VI
• Columbia – General Cinema BUSH RIVER MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV
• Columbia – Plitt RICHLAND MALL 1-2
• Florence – Litchfield CROWN  (Dolby Stereo)
• Greenville – Plitt CAMELOT 1-2
• Myrtle Beach – Stewart & Everett DUNES CINEMA 1-2-3
• North Charleston – Plitt NORTHWOODS
• North Myrtle Beach – Stewart & Everett OCEAN CINEMA 1-2-3
• Spartanburg – Consolidated PINEWOOD TWIN
• Surfside Beach – Plitt PLITT 1-2-3

SOUTH DAKOTA

• Rapid City – Commonwealth ELKS
• Sioux Falls – Midco PLAZA TWIN

TENNESSEE

• Antioch – Consolidated HICKORY HOLLOW 6  (Dolby Stereo)
• Chattanooga – Martin NORTHGATE 6
• Chattanooga – Plitt EASTGATE 1-2-3  (Dolby Stereo)
• Clarksville – Martin MARTIN 4
• Goodlettsville – Consolidated CINEMA 6 NORTH
• Jackson – Malco MALCO TWIN  (Dolby Stereo)
• Johnson City – Plitt JOHNSON CITY MALL 1-2
• Kingsport – Martin MARTIN TWIN
• Knoxville – Plitt WESTOWN 1-2  (Dolby Stereo)
• Memphis – General Cinema MALL OF MEMPHIS CINEMA I-II-III-IV-V  (Dolby Stereo)
• Memphis – General Cinema RALEIGH SPRINGS MALL CINEMA I & II  (Dolby Stereo)
• Memphis – Malco HIGHLAND QUARTET  (Dolby Stereo)
• Murfreesboro – CINEMA ONE
• Nashville – Martin BELLE MEADE  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Nashville – Consolidated CINEMA 4 SOUTH
• Oliver Springs – TRI-COUNTY TWIN
• Powell – Consolidated POWELL CINEMAS 1 & 2

TEXAS

• Abilene – General Cinema WESTGATE MALL CINEMA I & II
• Addison – United Artists PRESTONWOOD CREEK 5  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo) (THX)
• Amarillo – United Artists CINEMA 6
• Arlington – American Multi-Cinema FORUM 6  (Dolby Stereo)
• Austin – American Multi-Cinema AQUARIUS 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Austin – General Cinema HIGHLAND MALL CINEMA I & II  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Baytown – General Cinema GOOSE CREEK CINEMA I-II-III-IV-V-VI
• Beaumont – General Cinema GATEWAY CINEMA I & II  (Dolby Stereo)
• Brownsville – Plitt CINEMA TWIN  (Dolby Stereo)
• Bryan – Schulman MANOR EAST III  (Dolby Stereo)
• Corpus Christi – United Artists CINE 6  (Dolby Stereo)
• Dallas – General Cinema NORTHPARK CINEMA I & II  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo) (THX)
• Dallas – General Cinema RED BIRD MALL CINEMA V-VI-VII-VIII-IX-X
• Dallas – United Artists WALNUT HILL 6  (Dolby Stereo)
• Denton – Plitt CINEMA 1-2  (Dolby Stereo)
• El Paso – General Cinema CIELO VISTA MALL CINEMA I-II-III
• El Paso – United Artists UNIVERSITY CINEMA 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Fort Worth – United Artists HULEN 6  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Galveston – General Cinema GALVEZ MALL CINEMA I-II-III
• Harlingen – Plitt CINEMA TRIPLE
• Houston – American Multi-Cinema ALMEDA 9  (Dolby Stereo)
• Houston – American Multi-Cinema NORTH OAKS 6  (Dolby Stereo)
• Houston – General Cinema GREENSPOINT MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV-V
• Houston – General Cinema GULFGATE CINEMA I & II
• Houston – General Cinema MEYERLAND PLAZA CINEMA I-II-III  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Houston – General Cinema WESTWOOD MALL CINEMA I-II-III
• Houston – Loews SAKS TWIN  (Dolby Stereo)
• Houston – Plitt WOODLAKE 1-2-3
• Huntsville – CINEMA 1-2-3  (Dolby Stereo)
• Irving – American Multi-Cinema IRVING 6  (Dolby Stereo)
• Killeen – United Artists CINEMA 4
• Lake Jackson – LAKE I & II  (Dolby Stereo)
• Laredo – United Artists CINEMA DEL NORTE 4
• Longview – Martin CARGILL 6
• Lubbock – Video WINCHESTER TWIN  (Dolby Stereo)
• Lufkin – Martin ANGELINA TWIN
• McAllen – Plitt CINEMA TWIN
• Mesquite – General Cinema TOWN EAST CINEMA I & II  (Dolby Stereo)
• Midland – United Artists CINE 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Oak Ridge North – Cineplex OAK RIDGE CINEMA 8  (Dolby Stereo)
• Odessa – GRANDVIEW
• Port Arthur – United Artists CINEMA 6
• Richmond – LAMAR
• San Angelo – United Artists SUNSET 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• San Antonio – Santikos CENTURY SOUTH 8  (Dolby Stereo)
• San Antonio – Santikos GALAXY 10  (Dolby Stereo)
• San Antonio – Santikos NORTHWEST 6  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Sherman – United Artists SHER-DEN MALL CINEMA 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Temple – Texas CINEMA 6  (Dolby Stereo)
• Texarkana – Gulf States OAKLAWN
• Tyler – Plitt BERGFELD CENTER CINEMA I & II
• Victoria – Frels PLAYHOUSE 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Waco – Plitt RICHLAND MALL 1-2  (Dolby Stereo)
• Wichita Falls – Plitt PARKER SQUARE CINEMA 1-2

UTAH

• Logan – Westates CAPITOL  (Dolby Stereo)
• Orem – Plitt UNIVERSITY 1-2  (Dolby Stereo)
• Riverdale – Tullis-Hansen CINEDOME 70 TWIN  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Salt Lake City – Plitt CENTRE  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• South Salt Lake – Syufy CENTURY 5  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)

VERMONT

• Burlington – NICKELODEON CINEMAS
• Rutland – PLAZA CINEMA 1 & 2
• St. Albans – WELDEN I & II

VIRGINIA

• Bristol – American Multi-Cinema BRISTOL MALL 6
• Charlottesville – Roth GREENBRIER 1 & 2
• Chesapeake – Plitt PLITT 4
• Fairfax – Showcase FAIRFAX CIRCLE  (Dolby Stereo)
• Fredericksburg – Regal VIRGINIANS 4
• Hampton – General Cinema COLISEUM MALL CINEMA I & II
• Lynchburg – General Cinema RIVER RIDGE CINEMA I-II-III-IV  (Dolby Stereo)
• Manassas – Showcase MANAPORT
• McLean – Neighborhood TYSONS CENTER 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Petersburg – Neighborhood CRATER CINEMA 4
• Portsmouth – Schoenfeld PLAZA 3  (Dolby Stereo)
• Richmond – Neighborhood RIDGE CINEMAS  (Dolby Stereo)
• Richmond – Plitt CLOVERLEAF MALL 1-2
• Roanoke – Plitt TERRACE
• Springfield – General Cinema SPRINGFIELD MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV-V-VI  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Virginia Beach – Plitt PEMBROKE 1-2  (Dolby Stereo)

WASHINGTON

• Bellevue – General Cinema OVERLAKE CINEMA I-II-III  (Dolby Stereo)
• Bremerton – Luxury ROXY
• Federal Way – American Multi-Cinema CENTER PLAZA 6  (Dolby Stereo)
• Lacey – Luxury LACEY CINEMAS
• Lakewood – General Cinema VILLA PLAZA CINEMA I-II-III (Dolby Stereo)
• Pullman – CORDOVA  (Dolby Stereo)
• Renton – General Cinema RENTON VILLAGE CINEMA I-II-III  (Dolby Stereo)
• Seattle – General Cinema AURORA CINEMA I-II-III  (Dolby Stereo)
• Seattle – United Artists CINEMA 150  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Spokane – Luxury NORTH DIVISION 6
• Spokane – United Artists CINEMAS
• Vancouver – Luxury CASCADE PARK 4
• Wenatchee – Sterling LIBERTY III  (Dolby Stereo)

WEST VIRGINIA

• Barboursville – General Cinema HUNTINGTON MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV-V-VI
• Charleston – Greater Huntington PARK PLACE CINEMA 7
• Huntington – Greater Huntington KEITH-ALBEE 1-2-3-4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Vienna – General Cinema GRAND CENTRAL MALL CINEMA I & II

WISCONSIN

• Kenosha – Carmichael MARKET SQUARE 1 & 2  (Dolby Stereo)
• La Crosse – Plitt HOLLYWOOD
• Madison – Capitol ORPHEUM  (Dolby Stereo)
• Madison – General Cinema EAST TOWNE MALL CINEMA I-II-III  (Dolby Stereo)
• Milwaukee – Marcus NORTHTOWN 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Milwaukee – United Artists SOUTHGATE  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Oconomowoc – Scotsland SCOTSLAND 1 & 2  (Dolby Stereo)
• Racine – Marcus MARC 1 & 2
• Wauwatosa – United Artists MAYFAIR  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• West Allis – Marcus SOUTHTOWN 3  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)

WYOMING

• Casper – Commonwealth AMERICA
• Cheyenne – Commonwealth COLE SQUARE 3

“JEDI” NUMBER$ AT A GLANCE

• 1 = Rank among top-grossing movies of 1983
• 3 = Consecutive weeks nation’s top-grossing movie (and 6 of first 7)
• 3 = Rank on all-time list of top-grossing movies at close of original run
• 15 = Minimum number of weeks first-wave theaters were contractually required to play the movie
• 15 = Rank on current list of all-time to-grossing movies (adjusted for inflation)
• 23 = Number of days movie took to gross $100 million*
• 25.2 = Percentage of second-week drop-off in box-office gross
• 33 = Number of months between theatrical release and home-video release
• 38 = Rank on current list of all-time top-grossing movies
• 68 = Number of days movie took to gross $200 million*
• 164 = Number of 70mm prints*
• 1,002 = Number of working prints (70mm & 35mm) during opening-weekend
• 1,764 = Peak number of theaters showing the movie (week of Aug 5-11)
• $6.2 million = Opening-day box-office gross*
• $8.4 million = Highest single-day gross (May 29)*
• $11.3 million = Box-office gross of 1985 re-release
• $23.1 million = Opening weekend box-office gross (3-day)*
• $30.5 million = Opening weekend box-office gross (4-day holiday)*
• $32.5 million = Production cost
• $41.1 million = Opening week box-office gross (6-day)*
• $45.5 million = Box-office gross of 1997 re-release
• $75.7 million = Production cost (adjusted for inflation)
• $168.0 million = Box-office rental (% of gross paid to distributor) of original release
• $252.6 million = Box-office gross of original release
• $309.3 million = Cumulative domestic box-office gross (1983+1985+1997)
• $475.1 million = Cumulative worldwide box-office gross
• $746.8 million = Cumulative all-time domestic box-office gross (adjusted for inflation)
• $1.1 billion = Cumulative all-time worldwide box-office gross (adjusted for inflation)
• *Established new industry record
• Figures are domestic except where noted

NOTEWORTHY QUOTES

“Special effects don’t make the movie, and they are only important to tell the story and to give the characters credibility.  If the characters are not there or the acting isn’t good, the movie will fall apart.  It can’t sustain itself.  People think these are special-effects movies.  I would say the effects contribute maybe 15 to 20 percent to the enjoyability, effectiveness, and popularity of the movie.” — George Lucas

“This is the biggest release of a movie in 70mm ever.” — Producer Howard Kazanjian

“George Lucas is in the mold of Louis B. Mayer, Jack Warner, Adolph Zukor, Darryl F. Zanuck, the great pioneers of the industry.  He’s absolutely one of them.  No one tells George Lucas what to do or how to do it.  He is the epitome of America and the free mind working, and we’re getting better entertainment for it.” — Albert Szabo, Manager, GCC Avco Center Cinema, Los Angeles

A SAMPLING OF MOVIE REVIEWER QUOTES

“With Jedi, George Lucas may have pulled off the first triple crown of motion pictures.” — Sheila Benson, Los Angeles Times

 “Return of the Jedi doesn’t really end the trilogy as much as it brings it to a dead stop.  The film is by far the dimmest of the lot. Let’s face it, Luke, the magic’s gone.” — Vincent Canby, The New York Times

“An exciting, technically astounding wrap-up to the Star Wars trilogy.  The probability of success is about as definite as death and taxes.” — Jimmy Summers, Boxoffice

“If a producer wants backing for a new project, there’d better be a video game in it.  Producers are putting so much action and so little character or point into their movies that there’s nothing for a viewer to latch on to.  The battle between good and evil, which is the theme of just about every big fantasy adventure film, has become a flabby excuse for a lot of dumb tricks and noise.” — Pauline Kael, The New Yorker

“Two thumbs up!” — Siskel & Ebert At The Movies

“Third installment in the Star Wars saga is a sheer delight.  Some routine performances are compensated for by ingenious new characters and special effects.” — Leonard Maltin, Entertainment Tonight

“Let’s not pretend we’re watching art!” — Rex Reed, New York Post

“From the moment that the familiar Star Wars introduction words begin to crawl up the screen, Return of the Jedi is a childlike delight.  It’s the best video game around.  And for the professional moviegoers, it is particularly enjoyable to watch every facet of filmmaking at its best.” — Gene Siskel, Chicago Tribune

“John Williams’ music consists almost entirely of themes and variations on themes he composed for the two earlier movies.  This, unfortunately, will be a complaint that many people will make against Return of the Jedi.  They will feel that they have seen and heard it all before.” — Scott Cain, The Atlanta Constitution

"May the force stay with George Lucas and company.  They crank out some of the most exciting films America has ever seen." — Kathy Thomas, The (Vacaville) Reporter

“Return of the Jedi is a triumph of movie wizardry; a snappy, dazzling celluloid comic book, capturing our emotions between its magical pages and holding them within a prison of wonderment.  It’s a virtual toy box of dreams and surprises for children and adults of all ages.” — Steve White, The Worcester Telegram

“The Star Wars films have a mystic allure.  They are clearly designed to appeal to the best in all of us and to exemplify universally admirable virtues—courage, the strength to fight against evil, romance, belief.  They are built around the notion of a magic force in the universe which might be God or might be gravity; this force, in turn, is serviced by a knights’ order that is almost a clergy.  The entire cosmology is rent by a titanic conflict between good and evil.” — Stephen Hunter, The (Baltimore) Sun

TRIVIA AND FACTOIDS

In lieu of a formal premiere for Return of the Jedi, Lucasfilm and Fox chose to hold regional charity previews between May 22-24.  The cities in which these screenings were held included Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Flint, Los Angeles, New York, Oakland, San Francisco, Toronto, and Tucson.  As well, the movie was screened as a part of the Seattle International Film Festival.

The original title was Revenge of the Jedi.  The title was changed a few months before release.  Trailers and other promotional material with the original title had been issued prior to the title change, instantly turning such items into collectibles.

Blue Harvest was the production title used during location filming in California.  The bogus, intentionally misleading title was used to (1) avoid drawing unnecessary attention by Star Wars fans, and (2) to deter production vendors from raising their rates to capitalize on a big-budget, high-profile production.

Disasters and mayhem: One of the Jedi’s seven reels was missing from the print delivered to the Sweetwater 6 in National City, California, causing a riot when the first-show crowd realized twenty minutes of the movie was missing.  A 70mm print of the film valued at $12,000 was stolen at gunpoint from the Glenwood in Overland Park, Kansas.  The print destined for the Bush River Mall Cinema I-II-III-IV in Columbia, South Carolina, mysteriously failed to be delivered in time for its first scheduled showing, prompting the theater to hastily request a replacement print.  The Centre in Salt Lake City, Utah, experienced some weather-related damage, prompting its engagement to be relocated for a two-week period to the Regency.  An engagement at the Continental in Denver, Colorado, was terminated following damage from a fire.

The pilots of the Imperial AT-ST Walker commandeered by Chewie and a couple of Ewoks were played by director Richard Marquand and co-producer Robert Watts.

The Imperial soldier that commanded Han and the rebels to “Freeze!” during the Endor bunker scene was played by sound designer Ben Burtt.  During his fall after being struck by Han, he gives a “Wilhelm”-style scream as a tribute to a famous sound effect.

Among Jabba the Hutt’s henchmen were characters named Klaatu, Barada and Nikto, a nod to the 1951 science-fiction classic The Day the Earth Stood Still.

The THX Sound System and Theatre Alignment Program (TAP) were introduced in conjunction with the release of Return of the Jedi.

At the time of its 1983 release, Return of the Jedi had the largest order of 70-millimeter prints struck for a North American film release.  The expensive and time-consuming-to-manufacture 70mm print run was so large that the lab was unable to deliver every print in time for opening day, leaving some theaters to open their engagement with a 35mm back-up print until their 70mm print arrived over the course of the first few days of the release.

Southern California fans David Maples and Patricia Smith, dressed as Han Solo and Princess Leia, were married while in line at the Egyptian in Los Angeles.  A fan dressed as Yoda presided over the ceremony.

Jedi was screened for Lucasfilm employees and their families on May 7, 1983, at the Coronet in San Francisco.

A music video was produced for the musical number “Lapti Nek” performed by Jabba the Hutt’s palace band.  The video was broadcast during summer 1983 on music video channels such as MTV.  (The song was replaced in the Special Edition version.)

“Celebrate the Love” is the English lyric featured in the Ewokese victory celebration song.  (This music was replaced in the Special Edition with a new composition.)

Despite the intense secrecy surrounding the movie’s plot and relationship between characters, the novelization was released to bookstores two weeks before the movie’s release.  As well, on the day of the movie’s release, hundreds of newspapers across the United States published an Associated Press article which included a paragraph that revealed major plot points and character details.

Two original making-of television documentaries were created.  (Star Wars and Empire each had a single making-of documentary.)  Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi was broadcast on CBS on November 21, 1983.  From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga was broadcast on PBS on December 3, 1983.

In North America, Return of the Jedi was re-released on March 29, 1985.  On March 28, the day before its re-release, nine cinemas in eight markets showed for charity a Star Wars triple feature.  The eight markets chosen for the one-day-only 70mm event were Chicago (Carnegie), Dallas (Northpark), Denver (Continental), Los Angeles (Avco and Egyptian), New York (Warner Twin), San Francisco (Coronet), Seattle (Cinema 150), and Toronto (Uptown).  Jedi was also re-released, as a Special Edition, on March 14, 1997.

In the United States, Return of the Jedi was released to the home video market in February 1986, thirty-three months after its theatrical release.  (A six-month window was the industry norm at the time.)  The first network television broadcast was on NBC on March 19, 1989.  Its first letterboxed release (on LaserDisc) was in 1990.  Its first DVD release (Special Edition) was in 2004. Its first DVD release featuring the original version was issued in 2006.  Its first Blu-ray release was in 2011.

AWARDS

Visual Effects (Special Achievement Oscar), Best Actor (Mark Hamill, Saturn), Best Costumes (Saturn), Best Make-Up (Saturn), Best Science-Fiction Film (Saturn), Best Special Effects (Saturn), Best Special Visual Effects (BAFTA), Best Dramatic Presentation (Hugo), Favorite Motion Picture (People’s Choice Award).  The film was nominated for an Academy Award in the categories of Art Direction, Original Score, Sound, and Sound Effects Editing.  John Williams’ original score was also nominated for a Grammy.

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SPECIAL THANKS: Jim Barg, Paul Bubny, Raymond Caple, Kevin Chatham, Bill Kretzel, Ronald Lee, Mark Lensenmayer, Paul Linfesty, Adam Martin, Scott Neff, Jim Perry, Vince Young, and a huge thank you to all of the librarians who helped with the research for this project.

SOURCES/REFERENCES: Numerous newspaper articles, film reviews and theater advertisements; various articles published in Bantha Tracks, Boxofficemojo, The Hollywood Reporter, Time Magazine, and Variety, and the books George Lucas’s Blockbusting: A Decade-by-Decade Survey of Timeless Movies Including Untold Secrets of Their Financial and Cultural Success (George Lucas Books/Harper Collins, 2010) and The Making of Return of the Jedi (Ballantine, 1983).

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