*** written before Frink posted ***
Every Star Wars film has been a merchandising fest, even Star Wars (1977).
There was so much demand for Star Wars future trash that nobody could keep up with the bootlegs.
Loads of kids at my school had Star Wars knock-off tee shirts or Darth Vadar Lives! badges.
Selling tacky associated stuff doesn't make the progenitor product automatically worthless.
Look at Prometheus, that was a rubbish film with superior associated merchandising.