Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace effort after a 22-year hiatus following "Star Wars" in 1977. "The Phantom Menace" was released in theaters on May 19, 1999, almost 16 years after the premiere of the previous "Star Wars" film, "Return of the Jedi". The film's premiere was extensively covered by media and was greatly anticipated because of the large cultural following the "Star Wars" saga had cultivated. It received mixed reviews; critics praised the visuals, action sequences, John Williams' musical score and some of the performances, but criticized the screenplay, characterization, and Ahmed Best and Jake Lloyd's performances (as Jar Jar Binks and Anakin Skywalker respectively).
Lego Star Wars Lego Star Wars Lego "Star Wars" is a Lego theme that incorporates the "Star Wars" saga. Originally it was only licensed from 1999–2008, but the Lego Group extended the license with Lucasfilm Ltd. multiple times: First to 2011 and then again until 2016. In 2012 Disney extended the license another 10-year agreement was signed between the two companies. The brand has spawned five video game releases, developed by Traveller's Tales — "" (2005), "" (2006), "" (2007), "" (2011), and "" (2016). Many short films and miniseries have also been produced. The first Lego "Star Wars", released in 1999, included