On This Day

Birthday of George Lucas

May 14th 1944

14:26 14 May 2024

American filmmaker and philanthropist George Lucas was born on this day in 1944. Lucas made his feature-length directorial debut with 'THX 1138' (1971) which was a critical success but failed at the box office financially. He fared better with his next movie, 'American Graffiti' (1973) was a big hit, going on to receive five Academy Award nominations including Best Director and Best Picture.

It was his follow-up film that was the game-changer, the epic space opera 'Star Wars' (1977) had a troubled production but became, at the time, the highest-grossing motion picture ever made as well as being hugely influential on cinema and popular culture for decades to come. Lucas produced and co-wrote the sequels 'The Empire Strikes Back' (1980) and 'Return of the Jedi' (1983) as well as joining his close friend Steven Spielberg in creating, producing and developing the 'Indiana Jones' films: 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' (1981), 'The Temple of Doom' (1983) and 'The Last Crusade' (1989).

After a 22 year hiatus from behind the camera he returned to direct the 'Star Wars' prequels: 'The Phantom Menace' (1999), 'Attack of the Clones' (2002) and 'Revenge of the Sith' (2005).

One of the most significant figures of the New Hollywood movement and a pioneer of the modern blockbuster, George Lucas has remained, for most of his career, independent from the Hollywood system in addition to being one of history's most financially successful filmmakers. Happy Birthday George.