Heck, we just noticed, as we put on the Episode VII soundtrack for background music while we write this, the Spotify progress bar is a lightsaber that you can even change between Anakin’s blue, Luke’s green, and Vader’s red! Very rarely will you meet someone who’s never seen it, let alone heard of these box-office smash hits! Speaking of lightsabers, they are probably one of the most popular items in pop culture! But, just in case you the reader have NEVER heard of or don’t know the story of Star Wars, allow us to summarize. A long time ago in a galaxy…not too far away (it was this one actually) a man named George Walton Lucas Jr was born. In Modesto California to be exact. As a young boy, Lucas was very interested in science fiction shows and movies like Flash Gordon. He also yearned to be a race car driver but an accident that nearly killed him caused him to lose any interest in pursuing that career. Eventually, he became interested in film making and attended the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts where he befriended Steven Spielberg (they would later go on to collaborate on Indiana Jones). Lucas would then direct his first two full-length feature films, THX 1138 (which was not a success) and American Graffiti (1973). But what he really wanted to do was adapt Flash Gordon. Unfortunately (or, rather, fortunately for all of us), he couldn’t secure the rights. Instead, he set out to make his own space adventure, which would eventually become Star Wars. Star Wars…how does one summarize Star Wars? We know, we know…we said we would summarize it for you but boy oh boy this would have been easier when just the first film (fourth technically) was out. But now…NOW there is the original trilogy, the prequel trilogy, the sequel trilogy, anthology films, the extended universe (which changed [read: was erased] completely when Disney bought the rights). There’s so much. One of our favorite things about Star Wars is that every character has a name and a backstory. Everyone is important in this universe. That one Ithorian (hammer head) in the Mos Eisley cantina scene? Guess what, his name is Momaw Nadon and he was on Tatooine because he was in exile for revealing his Ithorian’s agricultural secrets to the Galactic Empire in an attempt to save his people. And he’s only on screen for five seconds. Another fun fact, did you know the Mos Eisley Cantina has a proper name? It’s Chalmun’s Cantina. But see, that’s the point. Star Wars is so amazing and so deep that it’s really difficult to summarize completely. We know this may be cheating, but every Star Wars film (except for Rogue One and Solo) has an opening crawl. So as not to do this VAST universe any disservice, we’ll just let you read the opening crawl from each movie (Note: as of this writing Episode IX hasn’t been released). Episode I: The Phantom MenaceTurmoil has engulfed the Galactic Republic. The taxation of trade routes to outlying star systems is in dispute. Hoping to resolve the matter with a blockade of deadly battleships, the greedy Trade Federation has stopped all shipping to the small planet of Naboo. While the Congress of the Republic endlessly debates this alarming chain of events, the Supreme Chancellor has secretly dispatched two Jedi Knights, the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy, to settle the conflict… Episode II: Attack of the ClonesThere is unrest in the Galactic Senate. Several thousand solar systems have declared their intentions to leave the Republic. This separatist movement, under the leadership of the mysterious Count Dooku, has made it difficult for the limited number of Jedi Knights to maintain peace and order in the galaxy. Senator Amidala, the former Queen of Naboo, is returning to the Galactic Senate to vote on the critical issue of creating an ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC to assist the overwhelmed Jedi…. Episode III: Revenge of the SithWar! The Republic is crumbling under attacks by the ruthless Sith Lord, Count Dooku. There are heroes on both sides. Evil is everywhere. In a stunning move, the fiendish droid leader, General Grievous, has swept into the Republic capital and kidnapped Chancellor Palpatine, leader of the Galactic Senate. As the Separatist Droid Army attempts to flee the besieged capital with their valuable hostage, two Jedi Knights lead a desperate mission to rescue the captive Chancellor… Episode IV: A New HopeIt is a period of civil war. Rebel spaceships, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic Empire. During the battle, Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire’s ultimate weapon, the DEATH STAR, an armored space station with enough power to destroy an entire planet. Pursued by the Empire’s sinister agents, Princess Leia races home aboard her starship, custodian of the stolen plans that can save her people and restore freedom to the galaxy… Episode V: The Empire Strikes BackIt is a dark time for the Rebellion. Although the Death Star has been destroyed, Imperial troops have driven the Rebel forces from their hidden base and pursued them across the galaxy. Evading the dreaded Imperial Starfleet, a group of freedom fighters led by Luke Skywalker has established a new secret base on the remote ice world of Hoth. The evil lord Darth Vader, obsessed with finding young Skywalker, has dispatched thousands of remote probes into the far reaches of space… Episode VI: Return of the JediLuke Skywalker has returned to his home planet of Tatooine in an attempt to rescue his friend Han Solo from the clutches of the vile gangster Jabba the Hutt. Little does Luke know that the GALACTIC EMPIRE has secretly begun construction on a new armored space station even more powerful than the first dreaded Death Star. When completed, this ultimate weapon will spell certain doom for the small band of rebels struggling to restore freedom to the galaxy… Episode VII: The Force AwakensLuke Skywalker has vanished. In his absence, the sinister FIRST ORDER has risen from the ashes of the Empire and will not rest until Skywalker, the last Jedi, has been destroyed. With the support of the REPUBLIC, General Leia Organa leads a brave RESISTANCE. She is desperate to find her brother Luke and gain his help in restoring peace and justice to the galaxy. Leia has sent her most daring pilot on a secret mission to Jakku, where an old ally has discovered a clue to Luke’s whereabouts… Episode VIII: The Last JediThe FIRST ORDER reigns. Having decimated the peaceful Republic, Supreme Leader Snoke now deploys his merciless legions to seize military control of the galaxy. Only General Leia Organa’s band of RESISTANCE fighters stand against the rising tyranny, certain that Jedi Master Luke Skywalker will return and restore a spark of hope to the fight. But the Resistance has been exposed. As the First Order speeds toward the Rebel base, the brave heroes mount a desperate escape… Now, after all of that we know this universe is supposed to be taken seriously (within itself anyway – Darth Vader is supposed to be frightening, not some joke), but that doesn’t mean fans don’t have fun with it. Fans of franchises are especially good at taking certain screenshots and turning them into internet memes, and Star Wars is no exception. Take Reddit for example; There you have three major subreddits dedicated to meme-ing all three of the Star Wars film eras (r/prequelmemes, r/otmemes, and r/sequelmemes). So put on the soundtrack of your favorite Star Wars movie, sit back, and prepare to laugh to your heart’s content because we’ve scoured the internet to bring you these top 25 Star Wars memes.
