Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983) and Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999): 16 years

Pretend, like me, you were seven years old when Return of the Jedi came out. It infected your young brain and fascinated and captivated you, leaving you desperate for a new Star Wars film.

Then, nothing.

Nothing for 16 years. Do you know how slowly time passes between the ages of seven and 23, my age when The Phantom Menace came out? This wasn’t the longest of the absurdly long gaps between films in a franchise, but it felt the longest to your humble correspondent.

A lot of people felt the same pent-up anticipation, which is one reason The Phantom Menace made almost a billion dollars at the box office. It also opened the floodgates to many more Star Wars films.