Which 1970s film is credited with revolutionizing movie merchandising after its studio famously retained merchandising rights instead of taking a higher director's salary?

The film industry has a long history of creative marketing strategies beyond the screen. Product merchandising and tie-ins have become billion-dollar revenue streams for major studios. This trivia question explores a pivotal moment in film marketing history that fundamentally changed how studios approach merchandising and promotional tie-ins.

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Star Wars (1977)
Jaws (1975)
Superman (1978)
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)