10 Things Nobody Wants To Admit About Star Wars

5. Star Wars Has Been Merchandised To Death

Star Wars Merchandise China
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Since 1977, Star Wars has been merchandised to death, every iconic image plastered over milk cartons and cereals, turned into everything from lunchboxes to tape dispensers. As a result, the films are genuinely difficult to distinguish from their marketing, the vast majority of characters, creatures and settings gradually cheapened, and turned into mere products themselves.

There are some genuinely wonderful moments in the original trilogy, the films themselves meaning a great deal to a good many people. As such, the excessive merchandising of the franchise is almost insulting, the films gradually devalued by Tauntaun sleeping bags, lightsaber chopsticks, severed Wampa arms, magic Yoda eight balls, and whatever this thing is meant to be.

It’s funny really, in a tragic sort of way – like watching an elderly person slip on a patch of ice. Tragic but with undertones of hilarity. As someone who cares a great deal about the films however, it’s mainly just depressing.

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Contributor

Formerly an assistant editor, Richard's interests include detective fiction and Japanese horror movies.