Hollywood has tried for nearly 40 years to duplicate the success of Star Wars by dumping millions into movies with stunning visuals and lousy plots: “The Black Hole,” “Tron,” “Flash Gordon,” “The Fifth Element,” “Batman And Robin”—he list of bad science fiction movies since Star Wars could go on for page after page. Even entertaining movies with great effects like “Independence Day” or the original “Jurassic Park” have come and gone, generating millions in box-office receipts during their summer releases, but barely leaving a mark on the larger culture.

Star Wars is different. There’s something about these movies that touches a very primal chord in people—and not by accident. The underlying story itself, of the hero’s journey, has antecedents in cultures as diverse as Japanese, Hindu, and American Indian legends, as well as the western classics. There’s literally something in these movies for every culture, because they were written with themes taken out of ancient legends from all over the world.

Star Wars unabashedly celebrates the values of friendship, family, self-sacrifice, loyalty, and love. It’s very difficult today to find many popular entertainments that even take such things seriously, much less hold them up as worthy ideals.