Star Wars: Episode IV--A New Hope changed the course of movie history. The production, however, was a tumultuous process that nearly killed the man who created it: George Lucas.
After A New Hope's difficult production, the all-important post-production and special effects loomed. A ragtag group of filmmakers gave the term "fix it in post" a new meaning.
Attempting to break away from the studio system, George Lucas risked it all by self-funding Empire Strikes Back. With Lucas focused on the business, a new director took the reins.
Star Wars had taken its toll on George Lucas. While his marriage, relationships, and physical health were breaking down, expectations were higher than ever for the series finale.
After more than a decade on ice, Star Wars returned with impossible expectations. Can this new Star Wars trilogy recreate the original magic without his partner Marcia at his side?
With The Phantom Menace leaving many fans cold, Lucas was at his lowest with two more films still to be made. Would he lose the dedication of his fervent fan base?
James L. Brooks, Sam Simon, and Matt Groening combined to create a series of shorts for The Tracey Ullman Show that would propel Fox and its creators into television stardom.
Problems plagued the launch of "The Simpsons" causing it to miss its original debut date and throwing the future of the entire series into question.
The Simpsons writers' room is the stuff of TV legend. While the writers toiled away, tensions rose among the three creators, leading to Sam Simon’s departure from the series.
Through internal strife and natural disasters, the animators gave The Simpsons their signature look, bringing everything the writers could imagine in 2-D to life.
To stay relevant, The Simpsons had to evolve, opening its doors to celebrity guest stars and new creative voices like Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein.
With a pioneering spirit and enough merchandise to fill a Kwik-E-Mart, The Simpsons continues to enlarge the hearts and imaginations of generations of fans around the world.
This billion-dollar blockbuster franchise begins with a magazine article that inspires Universal to make a movie about the underground world of illegal street racing.
After the success of "The Fast and the Furious," a sequel is imminent; Vin Diesel and director Rob Cohen are replaced by director John Singlton and rising star, Tyrese Gibson.
After the medicore reception of "2 Fast 2 Furious," Universal risks it all on a brand-new creative team, a younger cast, and a new kind of racing.
Universal breaks the mould; with bigger and better stunts, international locations and one of Hollywood's biggest stars, the franchise hopes the new direction pays off.
Halfway through filming, the ultimate tragedy takes place; the family pulls together to give their brother one last ride.
The tragic death of Paul Walker creates uncertainty for the future of the franchise; a feud between two cast members could cost them another star.
In the decades preceding the Marvel Cinematic Universe we know today, Marvel struggled through box office flops like Howard the Duck, corporate skullduggery, and a bankruptcy.
Marvel risks everything betting it all on a second-tier character called Iron Man. Kevin Feige takes control of the fledgling Marvel Studios, hoping to build up to the Avengers.
The Incredible Hulk seemed like a safe bet but struggles between actors and the studio threatened to derail the MCU.
Kevin Feige assembles his team and maps out the road to the Avengers. Marvel must figure out how to integrate Thor into the world of Iron Man as well as creating a worthy villian.
Only one superhero story remained to get to the Avengers--Captain America; the studio had to convince star Chris Evans to return to the world of superhero movies.
The Avengers was underway but with new corporate leadership under Disney, Feige's plan would be put to the test.
Emboldened by their against-the-odds success, Marvel ventures into new terrain with a little-known space fantasy title even most hard-core comic book fans didn't know.
Ant-Man's original writer and director, Edgar Wright, departs from the project months before filming, taking his department heads with him.
James Bond began with real life spy and anxious bridegroom, Ian Fleming. But it would take a bumpy road to bring this spy story to the screen.
With the departure of their star, Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman must find a new actor to play the super-spy.
Though diamonds may be forever, Connery was not. Embracing the cultural changes of the 70s takes Bond to new heights, but for one producer it would be the end of an era.
With an aging actor in the lead and a new director in charge, the Battle of the Bonds divides the franchise before a new gritty take on the character nearly drives it to ruin.
With a new generation of producers in charge and the fate of the studio in their hands, can Pierce Brosnan defy expectations and revitalize the franchise?
Producers aquire the long-estranged film rights to Fleming's first novel, Casino Royale, Bond is recast with an unlikely actor and see if they can reinvent the spy one more time.
An unexpected champion vowed to bring the Dark Knight to the screen, but it would take a visionary young director and a couple off-the-wall producers to get him there.
Production is off to a rocky start with an injured star, a troublesome vehicle, and an unyielding suit; maybe the producers and director can work out their differences to land the film.
After the success of Batman 89, the studio is ready for round two, but their director is not; given free reign, Burton and his handpicked team go wild.
A fraught production drives away the star yet delivers the toy friendly Batman the studio wants; when the sequel goes over the top, the franchise hangs in the balance.
To revive a dying franchise, the studio gives the key to the Batmobile to an indie director whose origin story and grounded aesthetic promise to resuscitate their hero.
On a mission to top his first outing, Nolan pushes his team harder than ever; when tragedy strikes, no one is prepared.
After failed attempts to adapt the books and a half-successful movie, an unlikely hero takes on the film deemed by many to be impossible.
With the clock ticking, Peter Jackson has to find a studio to save his work in progress; with everything on the line, maybe they can pull it off.
After a successful teaser at Cannes, the team races to complete the first film in time; meanwhile, filming begins to take a toll on the cast and crew.
The trilogy hinges on the technological magic being developed at WETA, but internal strife threatens to bring the whole thing crashing down.
The studio take a gamble too far; Peter Jackson struggles in vain to avoid the burden of directing; in the midst of a grueling shoot, one of the dwarves is sent packing
Peter Jackson pushes the bounds both on the page and on screen; maybe the audience will like what they see; a chapter comes to a close, leaving its mark on the film industry.
Making his journey from comics, to cartoons, to TV, all the way to the hands of Sam Raimi, bringing Spider-Man to life posed a major challenge.
The push for action leaves the team scrambling to come up with new ways of doing things; but just when the team is ready to kick off, a tragedy derails their plans.
The pressure is on to deliver a sequel to Spider-Man, without a finished script; the clock is ticking in the battle between CGI and puppets.
Despite his success, Sam Raimi loses his creative freedom as Marvel and Sony's tug of war begins to affect the story; Spider-Man 3 conquers the box office but loses the fans.
Sony reboots the franchise with a new director and actor; when hackers attack Sony, plans for the webslinger come undone.
Spider-Man comes home to Marvel, but can Marvel and Sony get along enough to keep him there? The franchise comes full circle, bringing everyone back together in a time of crisis.
A director known for working with kids goes to great lengths to make children's dreams come true, but the production hits a snag when taking flight proves more difficult than expected.
The team races to the finish line on the first film, while kicking off the second. But just as everything starts to come together, the team loses a family member.
A new director tests the team as he tries to bring real magic to Hogwarts, as well as a new Dumbledore.
The machine starts to go off the rails as the new director struggles; with the film still incomplete producers pull the plug and one crew member leaves the franchise for good.
As the franchise grows more adult, fame starts to take a toll on the stars. With the kids struggling to grow up and another new director at the helm, will the magic be lost?
As the franchise comes down to its final test, making two movies for the price of one, an accident changes one crew member's life forever.
Tom Cruise takes the helm with Risky Business but Paul Brickman is forced to change the ending.
Tom Cruise enters the danger zone as Tony Scott pushes the limits to achieve his sun-kissed vision.
While continuing in the shadow of Dustin Hoffman's performance in Rain Man, Tom receives his first Oscar nod for breaking out of his mold in Born on the Fourth of July.
Tom Cruise's next two films help those around him in launching their careers and brings him closer to winning the Oscars.
Tom Cruise tests his limits, becoming a producer and taking on even riskier stunts.
Tom pushes everyone to the limit, delivering a fitting sequel to Top Gun 30 years later. After Tony Scott's untimely death, Tom takes the lead in finding a story that speaks to him.
In the 1980s, Hasbro needed a hit toy line. Transforming robots were hot in Japan, but to succeed in the U.S., they needed a backstory. Enter Marvel Comics!
Transformers explodes in popularity, but Hasbro sidelines Marvel Comics and kills Optimus Prime to launch new toys—a gamble that could redefine the franchise for better or worse.
By the 2000s, Transformers is on fumes but Steven Spielberg sees big-screen potential, tapping Michael Bay—who isn’t convinced this 80s toy can become a new millennial movie.
After Transformers’ success, Paramount races toward another film. A writers’ strike and tight timeline threaten the sequel while Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox fuel tabloid flames.
Michael Bay is lured back to Transformers as China box office drives massive Hong Kong set pieces—but VFX strain and medieval lore leads to the audience groaning.
Michael Bay exits Transformers, leaving Paramount scrambling. Two untested directors are tasked with rebooting the franchise—but has the series already run out of gas?
