Lucky 13 Review
A Disturbance in the Force (2023)
Official Release
Official Synopsis
In 1977, Star Wars became a cultural phenomenon, prompting George Lucas to be convinced into a holiday variety TV special a year later. CBS aired the two-hour Star Wars Holiday Special in 1978 to 13 million viewers, which was never aired again. A Disturbance in the Force examines the creation of this notorious, buried TV event, exploring the intersection of sci-fi creatives and 1970s variety television.
Featured Cast & Interviewees
Crew
Production Vault & Info
- Production Houses: Jeremy Coon Productions, September Club.
- Distribution Assets: Managed globally by Giant Pictures.
- Historical Elements: Integrates unreleased archival audio reels from network variety writers Ken and Mitzie Welch to precisely dissect the script adjustments.
- Timeline: Initially greenlit in late 2020. The project was filmed and structured safely during pandemic shutdowns, premiering at SXSW in March 2023 before launching physically and digitally on December 5, 2023, for the special's 45th anniversary.
Official Trailer
An entertaining documentary exploring one of the most infamous TV specials in network television history. A Disturbance in the Force shares how the Star Wars Holiday Special became the famous disaster of epic proportions we know today.
🎬 Production Credits
The documentary sympathetically shows how rushed timelines, inappropriate creative talent and the television landscape of the time all contributed to the doomed from the start project.
The Autopsy of a Disaster
What is interesting is how the film illustrates all the obvious faults with the concepts, ideas, and storylines of the special. It serves as a fascinating look at the insanity of 1970s variety television, a world where George Lucas was persuaded to turn his sci-fi phenomenon over to a format dominated by song and dance numbers.
💡 Fun Facts
- This documentary features the final film appearances of legendary comedian Gilbert Gottfried and author Jonathan Rinzler.
- In 1978, CBS pre-empted Wonder Woman and The Incredible Hulk to air the two-hour special to 13 million people.
- The special marks the first on-screen appearance of the bounty hunter Boba Fett in the Star Wars universe.
✅ Pros
- Thoroughly researched historical context.
- Sympathetic look at the creators.
- Entertaining "VH-1 style" interviews.
❌ Cons
- Lacks new interviews from the core original cast (Ford, Hamill, Fisher).
A Disturbance in the Force is a must-watch for Star Wars completionists. It’s an affectionate, thorough, and often hilarious breakdown of why the Holiday Special happened, and why we can't stop talking about it decades later.
Want a deeper look into Din Djarin and Grogu's historic jump to the big screen?
Read Our Full Standalone Review
Check Out the Complete Definitive List
From the Clone Wars to the height of the Galactic Empire, see where your favorite films landed.
Read the Full 13-Movie Ranking