Nov 27, 2023

'A Disturbance in the Force' Arrives December 5 From a Galaxy Far Far Away

September Club and Giant Pictures bring home A DISTURBANCE IN THE FORCE on December 5 from a galaxy far far away to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the most infamous story in the history of Star Wars. The acclaimed documentary made its debut at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival and chronicles the making of the bizarre (and buried) “Star Wars Holiday Special” as well as a specific bygone era of 1970s event television. Discover the “hilarious secrets behind Star Wars’ iconically awful Holiday Special” (The Daily Beast) when A DISTURBANCE IN THE FORCE arrives on digital platforms, DVD and Blu-ray on December 5 via Giant Pictures.

Image courtesy of September Club and Giant Pictures

From the filmmakers behind NAPOLEON DYNAMITE and RAIDERS! THE STORY OF THE GREATEST FAN FILM EVER MADE, comes A DISTURBANCE IN THE FORCE, the documentary about the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special. In 1977, "Star Wars" became a cultural phenomenon that single-handedly revitalized a stagnant film industry, and forever changed how films were sold, made, and marketed. In 1978, filmmaker George Lucas was talked into cashing in on the Star Wars craze by producing a holiday variety TV special. What could possibly go wrong? ANSWER: Everything…

CBS aired the two-hour "Star Wars Holiday Special" during the week of Thanksgiving and it was watched by 13 million people. It never re-aired. While some fans of the franchise are aware of this dark secret, this bizarre two hours of television still remains relatively unknown among the general public. Simply put, the documentary will answer how and why the "Holiday Special" got made.

Produced by September Club with Giant Pictures handling digital and home entertainment distribution, A DISTURBANCE IN THE FORCE can also be experienced in select screenings across the US, UK, and Australia ahead of its digital and home entertainment launch on December 5 on Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, and Vudu.

The film is available for pre-order now on Apple TV: https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/a-disturbance-in-the-force/umc.cmc.52514u2v9821e9tldawu4vcgc

Check the official website for screening details: https://www.disturbanceintheforce.com/screenings