re: How much of a joke is it that Star Wars was ever thought to be equal to Lord of the Rings?

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Lord of the Rings is also a cultural phenomena. If you just say the movies, then obviously Star Wars is more influential, but when you add in the entire universe including novels, then it’s a debate. Led Zeppelin wrote a shite ton of songs referencing Lord of the Rings.

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definitely a different conversation when you talk about the impact of the books as well.

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this is valid. But we weren't discussing the books originally, just the movie trilogies.

If you go to include the books, then clearly LOTR is more influential. References in songs, "Frodo lives" graffiti on walls in the 60's, etc. Lots of copying, both in literature and obviously games (D&D).

Star Wars, for all the EU that was built (and also including comic strips, comic books etc), had more of a visual impact. Other movies, TV series, video games- I remember wasting quarters in plenty of Star Wars-inspired games. There was one that was an X Wing shooting TIE fighters, although it wasn't licensed. There was a Tail Gunner scene that evoked the escape from the Death Star with Luke and Han manning the guns. When I played Beserk, I was visualizing Han running through the Death Star halls, shooting at stormtroopers. People who weren't around then just don't realize what an impact this had on society.
And of course, the toys.

I guess one way to illustrate it, the movie The Indian in the Cupboard. A kid has a cupboard that if he placed toys in it, they'd come to life. One of his friends put a bunch of action toys in, with Robocop, a T Rex from Jurassic Park, an army man, a couple of ST TNG characters, and Darth Vader. The movie was made in 1995, so before the prequel trilogy, and 12 yr after Jedi. And the kid is maybe 12.


I bought a pack of LOTR action figures (all the Fellowship) when FOTR came out, mainly to have it put aside, because the SW figures were so in demand. Those LOTR figures never gained value. In contrast, I probably could have made thousands on the Star Wars toys, if I'd have kept them.