Disney saved $570.4 million on its Star Wars saga thanks to an ingenious maneuver which led to seven of the productions generating a $1.04 billion profit at the box office.

It’s been just over 12 years since Disney acquired the rights to the Star Wars license from George Lucas. These 12 years have had some high points and low points, but it has become increasingly obvious that the franchise is in the best place it’s been since the original trilogy ended in 1983.