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How Brands Celebrate Star Wars Day on May 4th

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Peter Claridge

May 6, 2016 6 min read

Updated on May 8, 2019

Note – This post was first published in 2016, it has been updated recently in April, 2019. 

Star Wars day is something that has grown and grown in popularity with each passing year. The Internet, and in particular, Twitter, loves a good, obscure day to celebrate (think Ed Balls day) and Star Wars day offers the perfect combination of geek, mass appeal and opportunity for pun-filled content.

Here’s how Star Wars Day has grown over the years.

Star Wars Social media

If you think that this growth is astronomical, you are right. Unmetric has tracked a staggering 5,500% growth in Star Wars day content being published by brands since 2012!

The hashtags for the big day include:

  1. #MayTheFourth
  2. #MayThe4th
  3. #MayTheFourthBeWithYou
  4. #MayThe4thBeWithYou
  5. #starwarsday

In 2018, #starwarsday was the most-used hashtag by brands with 2,678 tweets. I’ve picked out what I consider to be the best pieces of brand content from #maythefourth over the years 2016, 2017, and 2018 based on the engagement and interactions that they’ve received. Let’s take a look at what worked for the brands.

Star Wars Day 2018

1. Lush Cosmetics

I’d suggest this as a travel essential if you ever plan on taking an Intergalactic hop.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BiX9Cxxg2Is/

2. Corvette

Looks like you don’t need a Starship to experience the feel of a hyperdrive.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BiXMtv6Af-Q/

3. Lego

Fans were really impressed with Lego’s version of the Starfighter.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BiXn0mBnuBk/

4. Airbnb

Airbnb has nailed it with this post on Bubble houses that closely resembles the ones on the Star Wars movies.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BiW4t10h_ex/

5. Stance

R2D2 and C3PO never looked better than this!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BiX1NgdAVAP/

6. Funko

Glow in the dark Supreme Leader Snoke? Say no more.

7. Twix

Oh, the Force is definitely dark with this one!

8. American Tourister

American Tourister has got you covered for your intergalactic travels.

9. Uber India

Looks like Uber added a funky spin to its logo in light of the star wars day.

10. McDonald’s

Here’s McDonald’s take on the path to order.

Star Wars Day 2017

1. Star Wars

I’m just gonna say “The Force is strong with this one” and leave it to that.

2. Funko

Fonku seized the moment and released a retro Cantina Aliens 3-pack collectibles featuring Greedo, Hammerhead and Walrus Man based on the original Kenner action figure designs from the 1977 toy line.

3. Disney

Poe’s buddy and our favorite, the adorable droid BB-8 does have interesting lightsaber moves.

4. Roku

We wish more brands were like Roku – wanting the best for their fans.

5. Purina Cat Chow

As we can see, this cat is quite Force-sensitive!

6. Porsche

Well played Porsche! The iconic scene ingrained in our collective consciousness is re-imagined by Porsche.

7. Disney Pixar

We are impressed Disney. Can’t wait to see more in Toy Story 4!

8. Boomerang

Intense lightsaber dueling from Tom and Jerry, just like Obi Wan and Vader!

9. Genius

The digital media company has an ingenious take on Star Wars. The Galactic Empire led by Snoop Dogg and Darth Vader!

10. Assassin’s Creed

Star Wars and Assassin Creed crossover is the kind of thing you dream about and write fan fiction on. For now, this fan art should do.

11. Federal Aviation Administration

United States’ Federal Aviation Administration shows its lighter (and the geekier) side.

12. Gillette Stadium

Smart and sweet wordplay from the home stadium of New England Patriots, who won their fifth Super Bowl title in 2017.

13. Texas A&M University

Probably the best university to study cause they know how to keep their students happy.

14. Xbox

Subtly reminding us to get on with Star Wars Battlefront on our Xbox.

15. NAMI

National Alliance of Mental Illness pays their homage to Carrie Fisher who played the role of Rebel Alliance’s greatest leader and reminds us to fight our mental battles like Princess Leia.

Star Wars Day 2016

1. NASA

I love the fact that NASA had to clarify that Mimas looks like the Death Star. As if NASA has any followers that haven’t seen Star Wars!

2. Heathrow Airport

I wonder if Obi-Wan Kenobi would say that you’ll never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy than at Heathrow?

3. Nissan

It might be 12 parsecs kind of fast but has it helped blow up two Death Stars and come with secret smuggling bays?

4. Taco Bell

This tweet from Taco Bell was promoted on Twitter and the creative was used across Facebook and Instagram as well.

 

 

5. Android

When 2,780 days you reach (yes, I calculated), look so good you will not. (But Android will always look good to me).

6. Falken Tire

One way to get involved in the conversation is to run a contest to win Star Wars goodies. This tweet was also promoted by Falken.

7. Greenpeace

Nice wordplay here from Greenpeace. Protect the forests, we must. Indeed.

 

8. Domino’s

Aren’t you kind of tasty for a Stormtrooper?

9. Xbox

Sage advice from the folks at Xbox, unless of course you like your arms to be ripped off.

 

10. GoPro

Now strapping a GoPro to the front of a Pod Racer, that’s something we at Unmetric would like to see!

11. Downy

But there is good in it, I can feel it.

12. MyDigi

I can’t believe the Jedi council would approve of such frivolous use of the Lightsaber.

13. Rolls-Royce

If the Naboo Star Ship is the Rolls-Royce of star ships, what does that make the Millenium Falcon?

14. Stone Brewing Company

Hopefully available in your local friendly Mos Eisley cantina!

As the D-Day for the upcoming “Solo: A Star Wars Story’ is getting closer, we are anxiously waiting for the story of the younger Han Solo. We are also hoping for more creative content from brands for Star Wars Day this year. If you are looking for content inspiration, check out Discover and access 500 million pieces of branded content published by over 100,000 major brands over the last 5 years!



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