‘Star Wars’ is a blockbuster

From left: Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill in a scene from “Star Wars.”20TH CENTURY-FOX FILM CORPORATION/AP/FILE 1977

40 years ago today, George Lucas changed the world with a simple phrase: “A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away...”

Premiering on May 25, 1977, “Star Wars” quickly became a box office smash with a die-hard following. Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Princess Leia went from characters to cultural icons, and the film would grow into much more than just a piece of cinema. Toys, books, games, clothing — you name it — all carries the “Star Wars” name and helped to keep alive a franchise that is still active today (Episode VIII premieres this winter).

So how did the critics like the movie back in 1977? Well, according to the Globe’s Bruce McCabe, it was simply a “blockbuster.” Read the Globe’s original review of “Star Wars” below.