Space Movie Released In 1982: The Star Trek Franchise Flies To New Heights

For sci-fi fans, 1982 was an exciting year for a space movie. Two classic franchises, Star Wars and Star Trek, released their newest films to the delight of their massive fanbases around the world. Both franchises have achieved cult-like popularity since their inception, yet their journeys to the silver screen were vastly different.

The Star Wars Series Takes the Box Office By Storm

The Star Wars series began in 1977 with the release of the first film, A New Hope. This groundbreaking space odyssey was met with overwhelming critical and commercial success and spawned two more sequels, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, both of which also became box office successes. By the time the third installment, Return of the Jedi, released in 1982, interest had been so high that it shattered box office records and became the highest-grossing movie of the year. The film was a juggernaut at the box office, grossing a staggering $309 million in US theaters alone. This marked the culmination of the original trilogy, a tale of good versus evil and a band of heroes struggling against impossible odds.

The Star Trek Franchise Gains In Popularity

The Star Trek film series began more than a decade earlier with the release of the first movie, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, in 1979. However, unlike the Star Wars trilogy, the Star Trek movie series had been met with middling reviews and box office success up until its fourth installment. The Wrath of Khan, released in 1982, changed all that. This movie, while based on an episode from the original television series, was seen by fans and critics as a much-needed rebirth of the franchise. The Wrath of Khan was met with immense critical and commercial success and catapulted the Star Trek franchise to even greater heights. It was the second highest-grossing film of 1982, grossing a total of $78 million in US theaters.

Conclusion

1982 was a monumental year for space movies, It saw the conclusion of the massive Star Wars trilogy, but it also saw Star Trek take its first step towards becoming one of the most iconic science fiction franchises in the world. Both franchises left an indelible mark on cinema that remains to this day.