Summary

• Disney bought Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion, and Star Wars alone has made almost $12 billion in profits since then.
• The franchise's profitability comes not only from movies but also from merchandise, licensing, and tie-ins.
• The success of Star Wars for Disney is evident, despite some setbacks like Solo's box office performance and divisive sequels.

Twelve years after Disney bought Lucasfilm from George Lucas, the House of Mouse has confirmed Star Wars alone has made almost $12 billion in profits. In October 2012, Disney acquired Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion. Since then, there's been a steady stream of Star Wars content - initially on the big screen, and more recently on Disney+. Now, Disney has revealed the true scale of the profits they have made.

A new report from the Securities & Exchange Commission reveals Disney has made almost $12 billion from Star Wars alone - 2.9x the cost of the acquisition. It must be noted this isn't pure profit, of course; individual projects had their own production, marketing, and distribution costs. Still, it gives an idea of just how successful Star Wars has really been.

How Does Star Wars Make So Much For Disney?

Star Wars is one of the biggest franchises in the world, and it's important to understand that the movies are only part of its profitability. In addition to income from worldwide box office and distribution, Star Wars also brings in a massive amount of profit for Disney through licensing, merchandise, and tie-ins. There's an ever-expanding range of Star Wars books, with reprints and audiobooks of classic Legends material; Star Wars LEGO is a hit brand in its own right; and there are all the other collectibles to boot. All these contribute to the franchise's profitability.

The Mandalorian in particular served as Disney+'s flagship TV show

It has to be noted, though, that it's very difficult to calculate the profitability of a modern franchise that flourishes on streaming. Disney+ is dependent on a steady stream of original content to retain subscribers, meaning the value of the various Star Wars Disney+ TV shows is uncertain. The Mandalorian in particular served as Disney+'s flagship TV show, with its premiere releasing alongside the streaming service's launch, and the debut of Baby Yoda drove far more subscriptions than anyone had expected.

What is certain, though, is that Star Wars has proven to be a success for Disney. There have been stumbles along the way; Solo: A Star Wars Story's box office bomb was a disappointment, and the sequel trilogy divided the fanbase. Still, Disney will be pleased with the profitability, and optimistic for the future.

Source: Securities & Exchange Commission