Star Wars tops Forbes’ money-making list

Hollywood serves us a regular diet of franchise movies, the endless sequels and prequels that get us to Freddy vs. Jason Part 94. Have you ever wondered which franchises have made the most money over their lifetimes – many counted in decades? Forbes.com decided to check it out.

Not surprisingly, George Lucas, above, took top honors, with the Stars Wars double-trilogy that he launched in 1977. To date, the six films have grossed $3.53 billion in the United States and sold an estimated 560.7 million tickets.

James Bond was second, with 21 movies that have grossed $3.33 billion domestically. Jaws was No. 3 ($1.31 billion), Star Trek was No. 4 ($1.25 billion) and the Lord of the Rings films rounded out the top five. They have collected $1.2 billion.

Among others in the list of 31 franchises, the popular Harry Potter films, three so far, have collected $889.4 million.

Lawrence

Teller’s wine list wins ‘Award of Excellence’

A Lawrence restaurant is among the world’s best places for wine, according to the folks at Wine Spectator magazine.

The publication, the nation’s most influential chronicler of the wine industry, bestowed the downtown restaurant with an “Award of Excellence” for its expansive wine list featuring 105 bottles.

Teller’s, 746 Mass., is one of only four restaurants in Kansas to receive the coveted designation. The others are 40 Sardines, in Overland Park; 4 Olives Wine Bar, in Manhattan; and Southwinds Bar and Grill, in Wichita.

“I’m going to take it,” Teller’s general manager Matt Hyde said last week, beaming after receiving his copy of the magazine in the mail. “We’ve been working really hard on turning the restaurant around, and this is a big step in that direction.”

Teller’s recently strengthened its wine service, Hyde said, by hiring a sommelier: Thomas Goerdel, from College Station, Texas.

Teller’s and 4 Olives are new this year to Wine Spectator’s list. The complete list of award winners – more than 3,500 in all – is included in the magazine’s Aug. 31 issue.

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