This is a contribution from a Swampscott High School student, as part of the Swampscott Tides Big Blue Student News selection.
By Joey Blood
Since 2011, fans of Star Wars have marked May 4 with a now-iconic pun: “May the Fourth be with you,” a playful twist on the series’ famous line. What began as a niche internet joke has grown into a full-fledged, if unofficial, holiday, complete with costume parties, social media tributes, and a flood of themed content across major media outlets.
The celebration often spills into the following day, dubbed “Revenge of the Fifth,” a fan-made nod to Star Wars’ “Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.” Together, the two days have become an annual showcase of fan enthusiasm, with many opting for marathon viewings of the saga’s films.
Widely regarded as one of cinema’s most influential franchises, Star Wars has maintained a devoted global following for decades. Still, its more recent installments have sparked debate, particularly since The Walt Disney Company acquired Lucasfilm in 2012. The studio, originally founded by George Lucas in 1971, was behind not only Star Wars but also the Indiana Jones franchise.
Swampscott High School student Lila Rose Schwartz “loved” Lucasfilm and specifically Star Wars, from the storylines to the plots. She said she grew up with the films and it’s “one of my favorite franchises of all time.” She’s also a big fan of the “directing and effects” that Star Wars was able to generate.
“I saw Star Wars in the theatre, and it was transformational for me, probably was the reason why I made my way into movies,” said film teacher JoE Douillette.
Douillette also believes the films are one of the perfect examples of how a movie can “establish cultural connections, establish strong memories, draw out emotions, so I was really impressed with the original Star Wars movies.
But once films one through three came out Douillette believed the franchise became “misguided” and was “struggling between the original story and trying to make money.”
Before the sale, Lucasfilm produced all six original Star Wars films, including “Revenge of the Sith,” the final chapter in the prequel trilogy. Since then, Disney has expanded the universe with a new trilogy and several standalone films, aiming to broaden the saga’s scope while introducing it to new generations.
Schwartz believes the production value has “gone down” and as if “they are almost trying to make it more complicated than it already was” after it was purchased by Disney. She also said the “shows and movies are just not as good” compared to Star Wars one through six.
“If the volume that they’re putting out makes it so the quality of the storytelling is not as high, maybe that’s a casualty I’m okay with,” Douillette said. “There are people that enjoy it. I don’t want to dismiss the enjoyment.”
Looking ahead, Disney is continuing to invest in the franchise, with a new theatrical release, tied to the hit series The Mandalorian, expected in the near future. While anticipation is high, some longtime fans remain cautious given the mixed reception of recent entries.
But regardless of the matter, fans will continue to celebrate one of their favorite trilogies proudly. And in the upcoming days, May the Fourth be with you.
