Short answers, pulled from the story.
Star Wars debuted on the 25th of May 1977, in 32 theaters in the United States. Few exhibitors wanted to show it, and Fox packaged it with The Other Side of Midnight to encourage theaters to take the film.
Star Wars began production with a budget of $8 million and went $3 million over budget, with the total eventually reaching $11 million. Fox had initially committed $5 million in February 1975 before raising that figure to $8.25 million.
Lucas auditioned dozens of actors for Han Solo, including James Caan, Chevy Chase, Robert De Niro, Steve Martin, Bill Murray, Jack Nicholson, Nick Nolte, Burt Reynolds, Sylvester Stallone, John Travolta, and Christopher Walken. Al Pacino turned down the role because he did not understand the script.
Star Wars has grossed over $775 million worldwide across all releases. It earned $410 million during its initial theatrical run, surpassing Jaws to become the highest-grossing film until E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial in 1983. Adjusted for inflation, it ranks second at the North American box office behind Gone with the Wind.
John Williams composed the original score, which he and the London Symphony Orchestra recorded over twelve days in March 1977. The American Film Institute later named the Star Wars soundtrack the best film score of all time.
The phrase Han shot first refers to a change made in the 1997 Special Edition, in which the bounty hunter Greedo fires at Han Solo before Han returns fire. In the original 1977 theatrical release, Han shoots first. The alteration became one of the most debated examples of revisionism in the history of the film.