Date: 4th April 2001

Star Wars Movies Still Drawing Huge Audiences


STAR WARS movies are proving a force to be reckoned with - as the most viewed satellite movies for two years.

The initial trilogy of films in the space saga - now remastered - each pulled in more than one million viewers when screened by SKY PREMIER last month.

Even the oldest of the films, Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) made in 1977, pulled in 1.03 million viewers despite being screened on TV several times.

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) drew the biggest audience at 1.23 million, with Star Wars Episode VI : Return Of The Jedi (1983) attracting 1.2 million.

The channel is to premiere Star wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) on Saturday (07APR01) and expects an even bigger audience.

The Star Wars movies have picked up the largest number of viewers for a satellite or cable movie since February 1999 when MEN IN BLACK (1997) drew two million. (KW/WNWCAN)

Source: WENN