I'm surprised that you think it's "sane adults" who view SW as a kids movie. I think there's plenty of evidence out there to suggest that it's viewed with much more nuance than that by a large percentage of the populace (many of them quite sane).
I don't think celebrities (including British royalty) would be so eager to be background (even masked) extras on a SW film if they thought it was strictly for kids. I don't think Obama's Press Secretary would be answering questions about Star Wars in 2015 if it was perceived as merely a "kids movie." And I don't think Reagan would've named his theoretical space defense project "Star Wars" if the franchise was largely perceived as simply a silly thing for kids.
There have been colleges and universities that have had courses dedicated to Star Wars (there aren't a lot of children enrolled in college, as far as I know). Quite a few people out there also understand the Eastern Philosophy influences upon George Lucas's "Force" and "Jedi" concepts. Plenty of people also understand the actual demographics of the Star Wars fan base: it's mostly adult males.
The first two Star Wars films could be appreciated on a number of levels, and therefore had appeal for *all* ages. That was a key part of the "magic" of Star Wars. Yes, they had obvious appeal to kids, but it wasn't until ROTJ that they actually started being made more exclusively for the mentality of a child. And that's a strong reason why so many (myself included) objected to the drastic change in tone of the prequels. Making SW strictly into kids movies actually stood out as a *shift* in tone from the OT. Star Wars had officially "sold out" at that point. That didn't go over too well with quite a few people (and it's why I laugh when anyone says that the PT did no harm to the Star Wars franchise).
In spite of the PT (but maybe this is just me hoping), I don't think the general perception today is that SW = kids movie. The ST doesn't seem geared toward that. Not with a son killing his own father as a key plot point in one movie, and the total subversion of expectations being a clear goal of the other. I don't see how anyone could watch RO, TFA, or TLJ and come away thinking those were made for kids. Kid-friendly elements? Yes. Made for, and enjoyed mainly by, kids? I don't think so.
Mann's Chinese Theater for first viewing!?? And 25 times overall!!??? Wow!!
As a kid I assumed that my parents weren't into SW because it came out when they were too old. They were 30 when they took me in '77, lol. So yeah, I'm obviously cut from a different cloth (in no small part to the existence of SW itself.)
The one single SW film I ever saw at the Chinese was....AOTC.
lol
The one single SW film I ever saw at the Chinese was....AOTC.
Not having Star Wars around in the late 80's and early 90's probably helped immensely with my love life. Not sure how many girls would have been into me had I been too fixated on Star Wars. So, thank you GL, for waiting till the late 90's to give us news Star Wars.
The one single film I ever saw at the Chinese was....TPM.
Still a cool experience, Prime. Even though TPM is my least favorite SW film, that opening day (even without the benefit of being at a historic theater) was memorable. That crowd was buzzing! No other opening day has matched that energy since.Yep. Case in point this unused teaser poster prior to SW's original release. Note the tagline under the title. Not a statement you'd make to a child.
And just think, someday you might be able to add "I streamed 'Yak Face: A Star Wars Story' on my phone the day Disney+ made it available."
So much palpable excitement and anticipation throughout the theater. I'll never forget it. Everything after the lights dimmed, though? That I *would* like to forget.
Some day... some day, maybe not for us, but there will be another generational event "movie" -- or perhaps experience is a better word -- that captures the imagination of the masses for 40 years. My guess is it will be some kind of virtual experience (again, bad word but whatever the new 'virtual' is in the future) put together by a new, master filmmaker... er, experience-maker.
Oh Okay.Conventions
So true! 
Some day?
What the hell is End Game if not the modern SW generational event that sold out in 6 hours it literally took the crown away from SW it can’t be more clearly passed on than that!
People wait
If there was no internet the lines would be around the corner just like with SW in 77!
Christ there were actual “virtual” que lines on the movie ticket websites
People waited for 4 hours on AMC ticket website it was insane!
