How did Star Wars become such an enormous part of American culture?

by Ischaldirh

Just about everyone in the U.S. knows the phrase "Luke, I am your father." Why did Star Wars become such a long-lived cultural element, when other science-fiction movies of the era seem to have faded to obscurity?

LionoftheNorth

I don't wish to discourage further answers, but a similar question was asked a few years ago here.