The theater is silent, the screen dark. Then, like an explosion the iconic theme begins as the yellow Star Wars logo appears, and the applause and the cheer is deafening. On December 18, 2015, Star Wars graced the movie theatres with Episode 7: The Force Awakens.

By now, it seems as if everyone and their dog has seen it at least once and people still flock to watch the movie again. Perhaps the allure is the story, the continuation of where the originals left off over twenty years ago, or perhaps memories draw people, memories of when they were younger and Star Wars was the newest thing to come out of Hollywood. Whatever the draw is, one thing is clear: The Force Awakens has exceeded expectations. In 2012, Disney bought Lucasfilm, the company started by the creator of Star Wars, George Lucas, for just over four billion dollars. Alone, Episode 7 has grossed over a billion dollars since its opening. Just recently it has succeeded James Cameron’s Avatar as the biggest movie in history.

The plotline is certainly an attraction as it features old characters in new situations: Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, and Harrison Ford all make appearances in The Force Awakens. But far from being a repeat of previous episodes, The Force Awakens introduces new and complex characters into an already complex universe. However, some similarities are uncanny, such as the planet of character Rei, Jakku, being a desert planet just like Tatooine in The Phantom Menace. Both The Phantom Menace and The Force Awakens focus on unlikely hero characters: first Anakin and then Rei. The First Order, an organization which rose from the decimation of the Empire, shares a lot of similarities with its predecessor. And the familial drama is still around, although the Skywalker family has definitely changed.

In The Force Awakens, new villains and familiar heroes face off in a new, yet not unrecognizable, story. The good is still the good, the bad is still the bad, and the factions of Jedi and Sith are clearly defined. Although the movie has caused mixed emotions, it generally warranted the same opinion. Episode 7 is not alien enough to be uncomfortable to long-time fans, something George Lucas did not agree with. The creator wanted a new story with all new characters, and he pulled out of the production because he did not like the storyline. But all in all, a billion dollars just in movie sales is nothing to scoff at.