Midnight Madness was a nationwide happening in the United States at the stroke of midnight on April 2, 2005, marking the official debut of toys and merchandise related to Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith. Among the participating retailers were prominent names like Wal-Mart, Target and Toys R Us.
Toys R Us also organized a similar midnight event when the Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie was released in 2008. The main attractions included the Big Millennium Falcon (BMF) and the substantial AT-TE vehicles, alongside the new Clone Wars and The Legacy Collection product lines.
The term "Midnight Madness" can also describe the midnight premiere showings of a Star Wars film. A common sight is fans dressed as characters from the saga, often stormtroopers or Jedi like Obi-Wan Kenobi, willing to queue for upwards of a day. While online ticket sales have decreased the number of people lining up to purchase tickets, many still wait in line for prime seating.
- Wal-Mart Celebrates Star Wars This Weekend on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Sith Toy Previews -- Hard, Soft, Mini, Attacktix and more on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
- April 2 Midnight Madness at StarWarsShop.com on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link)