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A Disturbance in The Force

Play trailer 1:38 Poster for A Disturbance in The Force 2023,  1h 26m,  Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
A Disturbance in The Force: Teaser Trailer A Disturbance in The Force: Teaser Trailer Now Playing View more videos
Watchlist 100% 49 Reviews Tomatometer 80% 50+ Ratings Popcornmeter
100% Tomatometer 49 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
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. Movies would never be the same again. A year later, neither would television. In 1978, CBS aired the two-hour "Star Wars Holiday Special" during the week of Thanksgiving and 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, we will answer how and why did the "Holiday Special" get made.
A Disturbance in The Force

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A Disturbance in the Force pulls back the curtain on an infamous chapter from a beloved franchise in delightfully entertaining fashion.

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Critics Reviews

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Linda Holmes NPR Dec 6, 2023
Even if you just want to see a lot of clips of Harrison Ford looking like he wants to dissolve into goo and seep into the floor, never to be seen again, it's well worth tracking the documentary down. Go to Full Review
Richard Roeper Chicago Sun-Times Dec 4, 2023
3/4
There's no defending the half-witted, scruffy-looking TV show that aired only once, but this new movie gives the bomb some affection while putting it in context. Go to Full Review
Christian Blauvelt IndieWire Mar 13, 2023
B-
Even as A Disturbance in the Force isn’t remarkable filmmaking, it is of true value because of the extraordinary number of clips from variety shows of the era. That’s where Kozak especially shines. Go to Full Review
Aaron Murray Loud and Clear Reviews Mar 3, 2026
3.5/5
An entertaining documentary that deeply delves into television’s greatest disaster. Go to Full Review
James Croot The Post NZ May 21, 2025
While offering up exactly what went awry on the Holiday Special in forensic detail thanks to reflective, candid interviews, Coon and Kozak also clearly want viewers to see its presence in light of other examples of trainwreck television from the era. Go to Full Review
Louisa Moore Screen Zealots Feb 4, 2025
Made by and for “Star Wars” fans, this documentary is an entertaining look at how one of the most baffling projects in television history came to be. Go to Full Review
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A Disturbance in The Force

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Cast & Crew

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Jeremy Coon

Director

Steve Kozak

Director

Seth Green

Self

Weird Al Yankovic

Self

Paul Scheer

Self

Taran Killam

Self

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A Disturbance in The Force

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A Disturbance in The Force

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Movie Info

Synopsis 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. Movies would never be the same again. A year later, neither would television. In 1978, CBS aired the two-hour "Star Wars Holiday Special" during the week of Thanksgiving and 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, we will answer how and why did the "Holiday Special" get made.
Director
Jeremy Coon, Steve Kozak
Producer
Jeremy Coon, Steve Kozak, Kyle Newman
Screenwriter
Jeremy Coon, Steve Kozak
Distributor
Giant Pictures
Production Co
Jeremy Coon Productions
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 17, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 5, 2023
Runtime
1h 26m
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