Darth Vader captured the public's imagination

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When George Lucas made the jump to hyperspeed with the first in his series of "B-movies" in May 1977, it was like a rebel fighter slipping under the radar.

With a relatively small budget of $11m, Lucas released Star Wars, a sci-fi flick charting the hero's journey of Luke Skywalker from frustrated farm hand to saviour of the galaxy.

The movie came out during an era of high-profile big-budget flops at the box office, including Martin Scorcese's New York, New York starring Robert De Niro.

But there was no such misfortune for Star Wars. It went on to become one of the most surprisingly successful movies of all time, much quoted and imitated, and spawned five money-spinning sequels and prequels.

The sci-fi series that began 30 years ago this summer has gone on to reap well over $4bn for Lucas and his team. And that with a total investment of less than 10 times what was made. As the film's wizened sage Yoda would say: Money well spent, it was, hmm?

Below are the total and average figures that the Star Wars franchise made for their investors. For a in-depth look charting the breakdown of one of the galaxy's greatest movie successes, take a look at the Star Wars earnings gallery and may the Force (of knowing a good deal when you see one) be with you.

TOTALS
Budget: $411,500,000
US gross: $2,191,005,118
Worldwide gross: $4,342,748,947

AVERAGES
Budget: $68,583,333
US gross: $313,000,731
Worldwide gross: $620,392,707

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