Star Wars is a multi-genre mythology and multimedia franchise created by George Lucas in 1976. The franchise has been expanded into various films and other media, including television series, video games, novels, comic books, theme park attractions, and themed areas, comprising an all-encompassing fictional universe. While Star Wars is often associated with science fiction, George Lucas himself has said that it is a fantasy film and a space opera. However, the Star Wars universe does have science-fictional devices and technology that allow the story to take place, so it can also be classified as science fiction. In addition to these genres, Star Wars also incorporates elements of samurai films, westerns, and martial arts. Overall, Star Wars can be considered a multi-genre franchise that defies easy classification into a single genre.