The 1980s really was the greatest decade of science fiction film.  This week in May specifically, as we’ve had an anniversary for a big time movie every other day.

The first was Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back on May 21st, 1980.  With an initial budget of $33 million and a world wide box office count of $538,375,067 (to date via the Wiki page), Empire is widely viewed as the best film of the Wars saga.

May 23rd, 1984 brought us Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.  Love it or hate it, let’s keep in mind the main reason this movie was made:  so Spiegelberg could find himself a wife and have five kids.  (Kate Capshaw who played Willie Scott.)  They’re still married.

Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade was released on May 24th, 1989.  Reminding us to always choose wisely, this one contains probably one of my favorite musical cues of the entire series, when the Knight raises his hand in final salute as the Oasis at Petra collapses around him

May 25, 1983 was Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, (which was originally titled Revenge Of The Jedi).  So, yeah.  Jedi don’t do revenge, and this was pointed out to good ol’ George, who changed the title.

And of course the day that arguably started it all, May 25th, 1977.  The day the scrawl first appeared before us on movie screens everywhere, introducing us to the galaxy far far away.  Star Wars: A New Hope has been credited with inspiring almost every single movie maker in the industry today.  Yes, Star Wars came AFTER Star Trek,  and therefore Trek  is the progenitor, but Wars is no less important in the world of Sci Fi.