# How many copies of Star Wars do you own? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 28, 2013, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-copies-of-star-wars-do-you-own/648643 "2013-01-28T19:52:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-copies-of-star-wars-do-you-own/648643/21 "2013-01-29T00:47:37Z")
I have the original unaltered widescreen trilogy on VHS. And no VHS player. If they ever release a Bluray of the old trilogy with the worst of the dumbarsery removed I’ll happily upgrade. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-copies-of-star-wars-do-you-own/648643/22 "2013-01-29T00:56:53Z")
Star What? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-copies-of-star-wars-do-you-own/648643/23 "2013-01-29T00:58:23Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > You poor bastard. I was 11, I have an excuse. I was also very excited to see KISS and the Phantom of the Park on TV. ---
**Author:** ![Cumberdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Cumberdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumberdale)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-copies-of-star-wars-do-you-own/648643/24 "2013-01-29T03:32:40Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I did see the original broadcast of the Star Wars Holiday Special so extra points for me. Me too. For the longest time, I thought I was the only one who saw and remembered it. I had the VHS and they pretty much wore out. I now have the release from a few years ago with the original movies without the “improvements.” That will most likely be the last version I get. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-copies-of-star-wars-do-you-own/648643/25 "2013-01-29T03:44:03Z")
Three. A bootleg copy I bought in China, which included the theatrical special editions(with no additional DVD upgrades). The DVD versions. The DVD theatrical release versions. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-copies-of-star-wars-do-you-own/648643/26 "2013-01-29T16:05:11Z")
Lessee. I’ll include my parents’ copies in this, for my own entertainment, if nothing else. Way back in the dark ages, we bought TESB on Beta. Yes, Beta. I’m not sure whether we ever bought the other two, even after Dad caved and bought a VHS after Beta got trounced. Later, I bought the “faces” boxed set of VHS tapes - the ones with Yoda, Vader, and a stormtrooper as the box fronts. I then upgraded to a DVD player, but couldn’t find the non-fucked around with versions. So I bought bootleg DVD versions off eBay, copied from the laser disks. Finally, SpouseO bought me the boxed set of, oh, about 5 years ago now, that includes the Special Editions with the original theatrical releases on the B-side. I’ve never watched the SpEds at home, and probably won’t. So, call it 3 1/3 sets for me. ---
**Author:** ![edwards\_beard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@edwards\_beard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwards_beard)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-copies-of-star-wars-do-you-own/648643/27 "2013-01-29T18:07:46Z")
The original VHS release for the OT The Laser Disc 9 disc box set for the OT DVD releases of all 6 movies DVD Fan edit of Episode I: The Phantom Edit (with Jar Jar edited out) DVD Fan release of Star Wars Lightsaber Montages from all six movies 2 VHS copies of the Holiday special (one with commercial, one without) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-copies-of-star-wars-do-you-own/648643/28 "2013-01-29T19:32:51Z")
When I was a kid, we had the silent, several-minute-long Super 8 home movie version. I found a description of it [here](http://www.savestarwars.com/starwarsonfilm.html): > [@](#): > > In late 1977, the first 8mm versions of Star Wars appeared for sale. … the 200ft reel of Star Wars was released by a company called Ken Films, containing the conversation with Luke about the Force and getting his lightsabre, then switching to the escape from the deathstar and the complete Millennium Falcon and Tie Fighter battle. It was a nice seven and a half minutes. … This seems mundane today–it is basically like watching two or three promotional clips like the way you can do so on Youtube–but at the time the idea of (re)watching any moving image from the film in your own home was a magical, exciting premise. The 200ft digest was available in black and white silent, colour silent, and colour with sound. ---
**Author:** ![jack\_tardiff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/43a26b/32.png) [@jack\_tardiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jack_tardiff)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-copies-of-star-wars-do-you-own/648643/29 "2013-01-29T19:43:49Z")
None. I saw the third one in the theater, and I think saw the first one on TV, and some/all of the second one the same way. Probably should grab a torrent of the second one sometime, to get what those TonTons are all about and stuff. ---
**Author:** ![jack\_tardiff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/43a26b/32.png) [@jack\_tardiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jack_tardiff)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-copies-of-star-wars-do-you-own/648643/30 "2013-01-29T19:54:09Z")
Wasn’t threadshitting BTW just baffled at how many editions there are of these iconic movies, compared with equally classic/iconic or cult/nerd movies – guess it’s money. I like Mark Hamill, BTW – he’s been in some great flicks. Always hear people talking shit about him, but I got no beef. So, did Lucas just have a lot of spare time and nothing else to do than replace the IIRC pretty damned cool practical effects in the movies with digital recreations? Kind of Borgesian. Weird. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-copies-of-star-wars-do-you-own/648643/31 "2013-01-29T20:31:24Z")
I have the DVDs of Eps 4-6 that released both the original theatrical version with the SE version, each as a double-disc set. I also have the Blu-Ray of Eps. 1-6 (despite not having a Blu-Ray player) > [@jack\_tardiff](#): > > Wasn’t threadshitting BTW just baffled at how many editions there are of these iconic movies, compared with equally classic/iconic or cult/nerd movies – guess it’s money. Well, in my case, I [didn’t have to pay for any of them](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=670537) > [@](#): > > So, did Lucas just have a lot of spare time and nothing else to do than replace the IIRC pretty damned cool practical effects in the movies with digital recreations? Kind of Borgesian. Weird. It makes perfect sense really (despite whatever historical or aesthetic objections one might have) (a) The “Special Edition” was a way to test drive all the digital effects that would be of primary importance in the prequels (b) By releasing these “new” versions theatrically, it would allow a whole new generation of filmgoers to see them in a cinema, a perfect branding opportunity in anticipation of the prequels, too ---
**Author:** ![jack\_tardiff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/43a26b/32.png) [@jack\_tardiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jack_tardiff)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-copies-of-star-wars-do-you-own/648643/32 "2013-01-29T21:26:40Z")
> [@MovieMogul](#): > > (a) The “Special Edition” was a way to test drive all the digital effects that would be of primary importance in the prequels > (b) By releasing these “new” versions theatrically, it would allow a whole new generation of filmgoers to see them in a cinema, a perfect branding opportunity in anticipation of the prequels, too Those are good conjectures. Your (b) makes sense, however, while (a) is less convincing. I’m not a programmer, but I’ve heard people test software pretty rigorously all the time. I’m still going with your (b) (= money) and my “nothing better to do.” If those were represented as Venn diagrams, the intersection of the sets kind of makes some sense. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-copies-of-star-wars-do-you-own/648643/33 "2013-01-29T21:37:19Z")
At one time I owned the Faces set on VHS. Actually, come to think of it, those may still be in my possession somewhere. I own the Faces set on LD. I own the DVD set that doesn’t have the pre-special editions included. I own the DVD set that does have the pre-special editions included. I own the prequels on DVD, because … I don’t know, some day I may want to watch the whole thing through from beginning to end. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-copies-of-star-wars-do-you-own/648643/34 "2013-01-29T21:44:48Z")
I have the original trilogy in the THX widescreen VHS edition, #8729 (it is [this package](http://www.therandomthing.com/images/100_0410%20(Large).JPG)). I also have the boxed set of the OT on DVD. I have the prequels on DVD as well, but they were purchased individually. ---
**Author:** ![SykoSkotty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SykoSkotty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SykoSkotty)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-copies-of-star-wars-do-you-own/648643/35 "2013-01-29T22:07:22Z")
I have the original (unaltered) trilogy on VHS. Also have all 6 on DVD. Speaking of the Star Wars holiday special ------- I still have “A Star Wars Christmas” on LP ----- and if you check the credits, a little known singer (at the time) named Jon Bongiovi is listed as one of the back up singers. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-copies-of-star-wars-do-you-own/648643/36 "2013-01-29T22:38:03Z")
None. I’m waiting for the novelization. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-copies-of-star-wars-do-you-own/648643/37 "2013-01-30T00:43:04Z")
> [@jack\_tardiff](#): > > I like Mark Hamill, BTW – he’s been in some great flicks. Always hear people talking shit about him, but I got no beef. I find his voice-acting (especially for the Joker) to be more interesting and probably ultimately more influential than his Luke Skywalker. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-copies-of-star-wars-do-you-own/648643/38 "2013-01-30T00:59:26Z")
Star Wars, Empire, & Jedi at least two self taped VHS copies VHS THX remasters letterbox set VHS Special Editions letterbox set DVD 1st release 4 disc widescreen set DVD individual releases w/theatrical 2nd disc Phantom Menace VHS letterbox DVD widescreen Attack of the Clones & Revenge of the Sith DVD widescreen Entire Series Bluray complete saga 9 disc set I also have DVD copies of both Clone Wars volumes (the cartoon, not the CGI series) and taped off the TV VHS copies of the Ewok Adventure (that’s the name, not “Caravan of Courage”, DAMNIT) and Ewoks:Battle for Endor. > [@](#): > > other movies where you ended up buying copy after copy? Two VHS, three DVD, and one Bluray of Terminator 2. Actually I have more than one copy of every Terminator movie. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-copies-of-star-wars-do-you-own/648643/39 "2013-01-30T01:05:36Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > None. I’m waiting for the novelization. That came out before the movie even came out theatrically, let alone for home video. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-copies-of-star-wars-do-you-own/648643/40 "2013-01-30T03:02:33Z")
Funny, but when the movie came out in 1977, I was so impressed that I watched it 19 times. I counted. But I’ve never felt the urge to see it again since then or own a copy. And I think I’ve seen subsequent installments only once. I must have worked it out of my system. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-copies-of-star-wars-do-you-own/648643.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-copies-of-star-wars-do-you-own/648643.md?page=3)