How to Become Famous

CHAPTER 6

The Force

Right out of the gate, Star Wars (now known as A New Hope) was a spectacular hit. On its opening day, May 27, 1977, it was shown in just thirty-two theaters, but it broke records for nine of them, including four of the five New York theaters in which it was screened.1 Even though the movie premiered on a Wednesday, its single-day total was $254,809, or $8,000 per location.2 At Mann’s Chinese Theatre, in Hollywood, the single-day total alone was $19,358, while Manhattan’s Astor Plaza brought in $20,322.3

True, it did not quite win the box-office sweepstakes on its opening weekend; Smokey and the Bandit did that, earning $2.7 million to $2.5 million for Star Wars.4 But the immortal Smokey was shown on a whopping 386 screens, ...