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Its been 25 years since the final trailer for Star Wars: Episode I was released in cinemas, and online!

Its been 25 years since the final trailer for Star Wars: Episode I was released in cinemas, and online!
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
As we approach the 25th anniversary of Star Wars Episode 1 the Phantom Menace it's time to remember the anniversary of the last trailer released before the movies release.

This was the last chance fans had to see any of the movie before they got to see it in full on its release, and get a flavour for the story and characters.

The trailer was first released in cinemas which was the normal way to see trailers back then, and the next day released online, and this movie is largely responsible for the internet being the way we consume trailers today, and its responsible for the uptick in home broadband!

The first trailer for the movie, shown in 1998, was placed in front of movies Meet Joe Black, The Waterboy and The Siege and perhaps turned them into bigger movies than they would normally have been.

This trailer played in front of the movie Wing Commander and is most likely responsible for much of the box office gross of that movie.

Its hard to understand unless you were there how much excitement there was before the release of this movie, it had been 16 years since the last Star Wars movie, Star Wars Return of the Jedi and expectation were high.

Arguable this gave away a little too much, and perhaps promised a bit too much, but the release date was for May (in America at least) and the hype machine was just ramping up.

About Me

Meet Robert: Founder of SaltyPopcorn

SaltyPopcorn is where a lifelong obsession with cinema meets 20 years of elite tech experience. Founded by Robert, this premier UK film blog blends sharp movie criticism with deep digital expertise.

The Cinema Roots

Robert's film journey started early at the historic Palace Cinema in High Wycombe. From working at Ritz Video Film Hire (later Blockbuster Express) for 8 years to spending six years studying Film and Culture at university, his passion for the silver screen is deeply rooted.

The Digital Track Record

Before launching this platform, Robert taught himself web development and spent two decades driving growth for global digital giants:

  • Amazon – 8 years of website development
  • eBay – 3 years of e-commerce scaling
  • PayPal – 1 year of fintech strategy
  • Digital Agency Owner - 6 years running a digital marketing firm

Today, Robert has come full circle—combining tech mastery, SEO, and a love for movies to build the ultimate home movie database for film fans.

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