I have posted this information before but I think it bears repeating in he light that some still are posting YouTube commentary videos about the financial returns of this film as well as the debate. Also, I have had opened a very quality Merlot and feel sporty...
ESB's box office was 68% of ANH's.
AOTC's was 70% of TPM's.
TLJ's was 66% of TFA's.
So that's the simple math, not adjusted for inflation. Regarding ESB, my own experience was the film was very divisive, I recall at the age 12-13 a lot of debate with my friends as to what this film meant to the overall Saga. Personally I didn't like the Han/Leia match up and Luke's failure at the end. He was my hero and it broke my young heart he didn't get the girl and was beaten down at the end. If I had the internet in 1981, no doubt I would have had issues. Maybe we should all just let this play out and see what comes. We can all like or dislike the result but let's all accept the SW isn't dead, it's just different.