10 must-see movies that Star Wars fans can watch on Disney+ right now
By Jacklyn Krol
Disney+ is the home for all things Star Wars, so what do you watch when you’ve seen all of the Star Wars films more than once?
Although nothing can compare exactly to the Star Wars franchise, there are films that can come close to the series. If you’re a diehard Star Wars fan, you’ve seen all of the Star Wars films, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and any major release related to the franchise. So, what do you binge next?
For sci-fi, fantasy, action, and beyond fans, the task of finding something else to enjoy can be a bit tricky since your expectations are set so high. However, there are some amazing films out there that you can discover, some of which even feature cast members from the Star Wars films. From hidden gems to indie releases and blockbusters, prepare to get your movie fix.
Turn on your television and get ready to stream our top 10 picks for best films for Star Wars fans on Disney+ below.
1. Empire of Dreams
If you haven’t checked out Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy, this is a documentary that gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the creative process behind A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. Kevin Burns created the 2-and-a-half-hour long documentary.
The original edited documentary was part of the DVD box set for the Star Wars trilogy that was released in 2004. A portion of the documentary also aired on A&E. However, Disney+ has the exclusive full-length documentary. Amazon Prime Video also currently offers a shortened version of this documentary. The film is done chronologically and first begins with George Lucas’ career in the film industry. It also features outtakes and audition tapes of the stars. Not only are the cast and crew interviewed, but this also gives a look at how the films were perceived then in terms of social impact, politics, and beyond.
In 2003, Jim Ward of Lucasfilm marketing approached Kevin Burns with the concept. Previously, Kevin Burns directed other behind-the-scenes features and was the perfect fit for this job. Before filming, he watched the Star Wars films roughly 20 to 30 times through.
“I don’t like to do ‘Making of’ documentaries”, he told Star Wars NZ. “I do biographies; human stories”. As such, the starting point was not the usual collection of behind-the-scenes footage, but was instead a script, a story to be followed and focused on. The BTS material is still there, indeed watching ‘Empire of Dreams’, the viewer will be privy to out-takes, audition tapes, and pre-production celluloid never before publicized, but it will be woven amongst the reflections of Harrison, Mark, Carrie and friends, and interspersed with George’s recollection of the adventure.”