The lightsaber is the signature weapon of the Star Wars films, first seen in the original 1977 movie, and its distinctive humming and clashing sounds have become instantly recognisable around the world. As fans began making their own duels, parodies and edits, the clash became a shorthand for a sci-fi sword fight, even in clips with no footage from the films themselves. Today it is used in memes, gaming videos, fan films and reaction edits because a single second of that sound immediately tells viewers that a dramatic, high-stakes duel is under way.