‘Star Wars: The Phantom Menace’ At 20: A Look Back (VIDEO)
May 19, 1999 will be a day long remembered, as it marked the return of Star Wars movies to theaters.
Episode I: The Phantom Menace not only started the Star Wars prequel trilogy, it kicked off a new wave of Star Wars fandom and changed the way films were made and marketed.
In the months leading up to the release of the film, the hype and merchandising hit a fever pitch, as fans awaited the backstory of how Anakin Skywalker became Darth Vader.
On November 13, 1998, Meet Joe Black opened in theaters. The film wasn’t much of a hit, but opening day meant a lot to Star Wars fans, as it was the only movie that featured The Phantom Menace trailer ahead of it.
Within hours of the first showing, the video below was posted on internet news groups, showing the trailer (and audience reaction) as it was filmed live. It was quite a feat, considering digital video was in rare use at the time.
As you can see, the trailer received a enthusiastic response from the audience.
At midnight on May 3, 1999, the first Phantom Menace toys hit store shelves, with major retailers including Toys R Us and Walmart opening back up for legions of fans who eagerly bought up the toys.
Although it seems laughable now, Darth Maul was the hardest figure to find initially for many who didn’t hit the stores at midnight, as his figure was cleaned out by collectors. Of course, eventually there were more than enough Darth Maul figures to go around. As collectors now know, despite blockbuster toy sales, Hasbro greatly overproduced the toys, and most can be readily found at or below retail on eBay and toy shows.
This photo, from the midnight release of the Phantom Menace toys, was posted on The Rock Father website, along with more photos from the event that will make you more than a bit nostalgic. I strongly suggest your check out his photos and coverage by clicking here to visit his website.
At this year’s Star Wars Celebration, a 20th anniversary panel was held for the film. Here’s the video of the panel, posted to YouTube by the official Star Wars channel.
Although the film did not live up to the high expectations of many fans, The Phantom Menace, and the rest of the prequel trilogy, has earned new-found respect in recent years. Powered by nostalgia and an appreciation for the story, performances, and technical achievements, The Phantom Menace is now a beloved chapter in the Star Wars universe.
