The Rebel Move That Changed Movie Openings Forever: Inside the Battle Over 'Star Wars’ Iconic Opening Credits

The Rebel Move That Changed Movie Openings Forever: Inside the Battle Over 'Star Wars’ Iconic Opening Credits
Image credit: Star Wars poster

How George Lucas revolutionised film credits.

Today I want to share a little bit of film history that’s always fascinated me — the iconic opening credits of George Lucas’s Star Wars saga. You know the ones: that sweeping yellow text scrolling up the screen, giving us a quick glimpse of what’s to come.

It’s such a signature move now, but back in the day, it was pretty much unheard of.

If you look at movies from the 70s and early 80s, directors didn’t really do this kind of opening credit sequence. Instead, they stuck to the traditional format: all the main credits — actors, directors, key crew — listed right at the start of the film.

That was the rule, thanks to the Directors Guild of America. When Lucas was working on A New Hope, he actually got an exception to this rule — which was pretty unusual at the time.

But here’s the thing: no one really expected Star Wars to be such a massive hit. It was a gamble, after all. Fast forward to The Empire Strikes Back, and Lucas decided to stick with his new style — putting credits at the end of the film instead.

That didn’t sit well with the Guild, who fined both Lucas and director Irvin Kershner (who was mentioned in cradits) a hefty $250,000 for breaking protocol.

The Rebel Move That Changed Movie Openings Forever: Inside the Battle Over 'Star Wars’ Iconic Opening Credits - image 1

What’s even more interesting? Lucas paid the fine himself and then, in true rebellious fashion, tore up his Guild membership card in protest. It was a bold move that challenged industry norms and changed how films could be presented forever.

It’s fascinating how one director’s creative choice can shake up an entire industry! Makes you wonder what other traditions might be ready for a rethink.

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