'Star Wars' named Associated Press Entertainer of the Year

Star Wars isn't just strong. It's unstoppable. The revival of the nearly 40-year-old space saga has already dominated the box office and toy shelves. Now, it's also been selected as The Associated Press (AP) Entertainer of the Year and is amassing support for Academy Awards consideration.

"Personally, it's been three years of feeling privileged to be part of something that's bigger than all of us," filmmaker J.J. Abrams told the AP in an interview. "This accolade is very much appreciated and no exception to that feeling."

Star Wars won the AP's annual Entertainer of the Year contest with a volley of votes from members that would rival the firepower of the First Order.

The sci-fi series bested Adele, Taylor Swift and Amy Schumer as the top vote-getter. Others up for the honour included streaming services, Jon Stewart, Jennifer Lawrence, Taraji P. Henson, Viola Davis, and the Kardashians. Voters were asked to consider who had the most influence on entertainment and culture in 2015.

"In a year full of sequels, reboots and returns, none have recaptured the zeitgeist like Star Wars: The Force Awakens," wrote Nick Dutro of The Advertiser-Tribune in Tiffin, Ohio.

Movie spin-offs

The initial impact of a Star Wars resurgence first began reverberating across the pop-culture landscape in 2012 when Disney acquired Lucasfilm for more than $4 billion, plotting a pair of movie spin-offs and a new trilogy merging veterans Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) and Han Solo (Harrison Ford) with newcomers Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega) and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver).

In the year leading up to the December release of The Force Awakens, Disney and Lucasfilm unleashed a barrage of Star Wars merchandise, comic books and video games that fuelled anticipation of the film.

When the movie opened in theatres, The Force Awakens lit up screens - and fans' eyeballs - brighter than a lightsaber. With an astronomical $248 million debut at the box office last weekend, the newest Star Wars entry trampled over the record for biggest debut in North America, set earlier in the year by Jurassic World.

The Force Awakens also has won over most critics despite not being screened for them ahead of the film's mammoth December 14 premiere in Hollywood. The American Film Institute selected it as one of its 10 best movies of the year, and the Critics' Choice Awards added it as an 11th best picture nominee, leading many to have faith in The Force Awakens as a viable Oscar contender.

"The 'Star Wars' franchise is holding an IOU that it could cash in this year," said Tom O'Neil, editor-in-chief of Gold Derby, a site that handicaps Hollywood awards and other events. "The Oscars owe major love to the 'Star Wars' franchise. It's one of the most successful and beloved franchises in Hollywood history. It's criminal that Oscar voters have never historically taken sci-fi seriously."

22 nominations

While previous Star Wars films garnered 22 nominations and seven wins at the Academy Awards, only the original Star Wars earned a best picture nod. It lost to Annie Hall in 1978.

The Force Awakens is already on the academy's shortlist for a visual effects nomination with 9 other films, and O'Neil is hopeful that it will be among the best picture candidates when the Oscar nominations are announced on January 14. He also wouldn't be shocked if Harrison Ford is recognised for reprising his role as Han Solo and composer John Williams earns his 50th nomination for the film's score.

"It's funny," said Abrams. "I've spent the last few years with everyone asking me how I am dealing with the pressure. The truth is that anything that happens at this point is icing on a cake that I'm just happy came out of the oven."

Star Wars joins the list of previous AP Entertainer of the Year winners who, in recent years, have mostly included female performers, including Adele, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lawrence, Lady Gaga, Tina Fey and Betty White. The animated Disney juggernaut, Frozen, captured the prize in 2014, and Stephen Colbert was honoured in 2007.

- AP