Prior to the release of one of the trailers for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the hashtag #BoycottEpisodeVII began to trend worldwide by Men’s Rights Activists who were upset over the film’s casting. They claim that the characters of Rey and Finn took central roles away from white actors and the most prominent website for Men’s Rights, Return of Kings, ran a Twitter poll recently, and reported that their boycott cost Star Wars: The Force Awakens up to $4.2 million.
“Fifty-five percent of respondents to a Return of Kings Twitter poll have said that online reporting of the social justice nature of The Force Awakens influenced their decision whether to see the film. Extended across our readership, with over 900,000 users accessing ROK between November 21 and December 21, this amounts to a potential direct impact of $4,219,456.54 (55% x $8.38 x 915,482) on total revenues. $8.38 is based on the average cinema ticket price in the US, which is now an all-time high.”
Their review of Star Wars: The Force Awakens (which means one of their own paid to see it), called Rey a “Mary Sue” and Finn a “glorified White Knight”. They also weren’t keen on Mad Max: Fury Road, for obvious reasons.
With Star Wars: The Force Awakens crossing $1.5 billion recently, this may seem like a small drop in the ocean for Disney.
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Star Wars: The Force Awakens sees J.J. Abrams directing returning stars Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Kenny Baker (R2-D2), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) and Tim Rose (Admiral Ackbar), in addition to Adam Driver (Girls), Oscar Isaac (A Most Violent Year), Andy Serkis (Avengers: Age of Ultron), Domhnall Gleeson (Ex Machina), John Boyega (Attack the Block), Daisy Ridley (Silent Witness), Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones), Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave), Ken Leung (Lost), Miltos Yerolemou (Game of Thrones), Max von Sydow (The Exorcist), Jessica Henwick (Spirit Warriors), Christina Chong (24: Live Another Day), Simon Pegg (Star Trek) and newcomers Crystal Clarke and Pip Andersen.
Originally published January 4, 2016. Updated April 14, 2018.
