47 Years Ago Today, the Most Underrated Movie Franchise Began (Modern Star Wars Paid Tribute to It)

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Today’s Hollywood relies heavily on franchises and interconnected movie universes more than ever before. Unlike the old days, where a successful film would earn a sequel, studios now plan for potential continuations before even starting a movie. While franchises like Marvel, Star Wars, and Jurassic World have become huge financial successes, they often struggle with creative consistency due to many different people contributing. It’s unusual for a franchise to maintain a consistent creative vision and still achieve long-term success.

Forty-seven years ago today, on March 28, 1979, a surprisingly influential movie franchise began with the release of Phantasm. Like other low-budget horror hits of the time, such as Halloween and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, the film was funded by local investors with a budget of just $300,000. It went on to earn over $22 million in theaters (which is about $103 million today). Phantasm was the creation of writer/director Don Coscarelli, and it initially captivated audiences with its scary imagery and original story. Its success ultimately launched a long-running franchise, and its creator would later have a significant impact on another major film series.

Phantasm Remains an Underrated Franchise With a Singular Creative Voice

Phantasm is a spooky horror film that takes place in a quiet Oregon town. It follows young Mike Pearson, his brother Jody, and their friend Reggie as they try to uncover the strange events happening at a local funeral home. What starts as a seemingly normal investigation quickly turns bizarre with the appearance of the sinister Tall Man, flying metal orbs, and his otherworldly dwarf servants. These elements make Phantasm a truly unique and unsettling horror movie.

The first Phantasm film did well, and studios wanted a sequel, but director Don Coscarelli initially felt the story was complete. He eventually developed a new idea, leading to Phantasm II. Like Halloween II, it was picked up by Universal Pictures as they looked to grow their horror offerings. While Phantasm II didn’t earn as much money as the original, it broadened the Phantasm universe and established the direction of future installments, with Mike and Reggie continuing their fight against The Tall Man across the country and even into other dimensions.

Despite not being a huge hit, Phantasm II led to Phantasm III, IV, and even a fifth film, Ravager, released as recently as 2016. What makes Phantasm unique is that, unlike almost every other film series, it largely comes from the vision of one person: Don Coscarelli, who wrote and directed the first four films and wrote/produced the fifth. While the horror genre and the film’s often unexplained strangeness might not appeal to everyone, Phantasm is a truly special find. It’s incredibly unusual for one person to be the creative force behind an entire franchise, and that’s something to be appreciated. Phantasm adds something valuable to the world of film, and we need more franchises that embrace this kind of singular creative vision.

The Phantasm-Star Wars Connection

While Phantasm is now appreciated by many, for a long time it was a beloved but niche horror franchise. Interestingly, one early fan was J.J. Abrams, who seemed destined for a career in filmmaking. Stories about his early work, like restoring Steven Spielberg’s old home movies, have circulated for years, highlighting his passion from a young age.

J.J. Abrams is a huge fan of Phantasm, and he was particularly inspired by how director Don Coscarelli made such an ambitious film with limited resources and a small budget. Coscarelli’s earlier success – becoming the youngest director to have a film released by a major studio (Universal’s Jim the World’s Greatest in 1976) – also motivated Abrams, who was keen to break into the film industry himself. Years later, in the 2000s, Abrams contacted Coscarelli to express his admiration for Phantasm, which led to Angus Scrimm, the film’s villain, making a cameo on Abrams’ show Alias. Abrams wanted to share the original Phantasm with his team at Bad Robot, but discovered the existing copies were in poor condition. This prompted Abrams and his crew to fully restore the film, which contributed to its renewed popularity.

J.J. Abrams didn’t just admire the film Phantasm – he found a way to honor it in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. With the power to introduce new elements to the Star Wars universe, Abrams subtly paid tribute to Phantasm. He named one of the new characters Captain Phasma, a clear nod to the film. But he didn’t stop there. Abrams ensured Captain Phasma’s costume was made of highly reflective chrome, mirroring the iconic flying spheres from Phantasm.

The Phantasm series holds a unique position in film history. Starting as an independent success, it remained creatively independent because it wasn’t controlled by major studios or their investors. This freedom allowed Don Coscarelli to develop his signature storytelling style – one where every answer leads to more questions. While not everyone enjoys it, Phantasm has a dedicated fanbase, with many supporters even working on large-scale franchises while still appreciating the original series.

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2026-03-28 23:15