Darth Vader's lightsaber from ‘I am your father’ duel sells at auction

'Star Wars' premieres through the years From the 1970s to the 1990s and still today, Star Wars has always been a box office draw. But what is it about the franchise that keeps fans lining up? In this LiveNOW & Then full episode, we'll look back at how media coverage of the movies looked with each passing generation. The Brief Darth Vader’s screen-used lightsaber from "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi" sold for $4.875 million at Heritage Auctions on November 12. The prop, featured in the iconic duel between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker, set a world auction record for any Star Wars collectible, according to the company. The lightsaber had been expected to sell for at least $1 million. A lightsaber used by Darth Vader in the "Star Wars" movies "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi" sold Thursday for nearly $5 million in an auction. The prop, used in the climactic duel between Vader and Luke Skywalker in "The Empire Strikes Back" where he tells Skywalker "I am your father," was among the highlights of the Ultimate Star Wars Auction on Nov. 12. Darth Vader’s lightsaber sells for nearly $5 million Big picture view: The lightsaber sold for $4.875 million at the auction held by Heritage Auctions. The sale marks a world auction record for any "Star Wars" collectible, according to the company. A lightsaber prop, used by the character "Darth Vader" in the Star Wars films "The Empire Strikes Back and "Return Of The Jedi", is displayed at a photocall ahead of an auction of entertainment memorabilia. (Credit: Neal/Getty Images) The sale also established a new auction record for a screen-used "Star Wars" prop, according to the auction organizer. More than two dozen lightsaber props spanning "Star Wars" Episodes I through IX were also available at the auction, along with memorabilia from other films and television shows set in the galaxy created by George Lucas. ‘Star Wars’ lightsaber goes up for auction The backstory: The lightsaber was previously expected to sell for at least $1 million. EARLIER: Darth Vader's 'Empire Strikes Back' lightsaber goes up for auction The auction also comes just months after another lightsaber featuring Luke Skywalker’s severed hand from "The Empire Strikes Back" sold for $3.75 million in July, setting a record at that time for the highest price ever paid for a prop used in a "Star Wars" film, according to the auction house. The Source: This story was reported from Los Angeles. The Associated Press contributed. Entertainment U.S. Consumer