An old Star Wars TV broadcast had a unique way of running their commercials, and it truly has to be seen to be believed.
Star Wars is best when watched in a movie theater, as has always been the case. However, sometimes you might catch the original trilogy playing on TV occasionally, and if you’re like most fans, you’ll stop what you’re doing and watch it.
However, this format does have its drawbacks. For one, there’s nothing more annoying than trying to revisit your favorite Star Wars movies, getting lost in the epic space battles, and then getting blindsided with a smash cut to a commercial.
But there’s one exception. Clips have been making the rounds online of a years-old Star Wars broadcast that found a unique way of cutting around their commercials. It’s baffling, hilarious, and needless to say, fans are going nuts for it.
Star Wars TV broadcast in Chile cut their commercials into the movie
In 2003 and 2004, the original Star Wars trilogy aired on Channel 13 in Chile, and the network decided to weave the commercials into the narrative of the story, resulting in some hilarious moments.
The clips have been appearing across social media, gaining some incredible fan reactions. Of course, it could appear as the work of some very clever editing, but it’s all legitimate. In fact, it was enough for George Lucas to take the broadcasters to court in 2004 over their edits.
So, what’s all the fuss about? You can check out one of the clips for yourself below:
Around 2003 in Chile, when the original trilogy of Star Wars began airing on television there, they did this funny thing to avoid cutting to commercial breaks. They stitched the commercials into the films themselves. Here is one of them, with the English dub added in. pic.twitter.com/wC7N2vPNvv
— Windy 🛸 (@heyitswindy) March 2, 2024
Clearly, this is the work of some advertising geniuses. Instead of cutting away to a traditional ad break, the promotions for the beer brand Cerveza Cristal were inserted into the scenes as if they were a part of the action themselves.
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So successful was this campaign, that the CCU (Compañía de Cervecerías Unidas) decided to run the same technique throughout other movies, including American Beauty and Gladiator. They even received awards, according to Vida Extra.
Of course, fans have become absolutely obsessed with these ads.
“I just found out about this and the very thought of Obi-Wan pullin a crisp n’ cold one out for Luke in honor of his father is the funniest thing I’ve encountered all day,” one X user commented.
“This is the greatest thing I have ever seen,” wrote another. One comment added: “This is better than any change George Lucas ever made.”
“RELEASE THE CHILE CUT,” one comment demanded.
Another said: “So I need this edition now, my wife said she will actually watch Star Wars if it’s this version.”
Star Wars might be a movie you’ve already seen a hundred times, but there’s no doubting that everyone would be up for another rewatch. But only If we can get the full Cerveza Cristal version in all its glory, of course.
