The 99-Year-Old Classic That Inspired 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' Is Officially Free to Stream

A memorable shot in director Rian Johnson's Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi was inspired by a similar moment in a silent movie from 1927. The shot in question was seen in the Canto Bight sequence, when Rey and Finn, played by Daisy Ridley and John Boyega, enter a casino and the camera zooms through a string of characters. Interestingly, the shot stood out even in the mid-2010s, when The Last Jedi was released. Imagine how groundbreaking it was 99 years ago, when it was first seen in the classic film that's now streaming for free on a brand-new platform. The movie in question is also notable for being the very first winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture. With the Oscars about to turn 100 soon, audiences can expect some form of tribute to be paid to the classic.

Released in 1927, the movie was an anti-war romance whose influence can be felt in everything from All Quiet on the Western Front to Michael Bay's Pearl Harbor. Bay's movie borrowed several elements from the classic, such as a central love triangle and aerial combat sequences. For several decades, it was considered a lost film until it was restored and recirculated in the 1980s. The film is now in the public domain, which is how it's available to stream for free on JustWatch TV. The platform is currently in its beta phase, but will be launched properly this October.