[ cheers and applause ] this is "nightline." >> tonight -- >> i discovered this. doctor. seeing brains of athletes who suffered repeated blows to the head he's on a mission for the truth inspiring the new movie "concussion." >> this is bigger than they are. plus it's an american girl doll frenzy. these dolls are national obsessions. hairstyling, complete wardrobes, and loads of fancy accessories. some going for nearly $5,000 on ebay. the force is strong in the

and has been for three decades. the galactic franchise not slowing down yet. a worldwide phenomenon that has racked up gold statues and fanfare. so can "star wars: the force awakens" soar past the galaxy far, far away? but first the "nightline 5." >> but grandma, mommy says we don't have to watch to get clean because we use charmin ultra soft. >> charmin ultra soft has comfort cushions you can see that are softer and more absorbent. use up to four times less. enjoy got with charmin. constipated? trust dulcolax tablets for gentle overnight relief. suppositories for relief in minutes. stool softeners for comfortable relief of hard stools. dulcolax. designed for dependable relief people are working harder than ever, but the everyday cost of perscriptions, child care, or even just buying groceries can be a stretch for too many families.

minimum wage, get equal pay for women, cut taxes for the middle class, and new incentives for business to share profits with employees instead of just rewarding ceos. those at the top are doing just fine. it's your family that needs a raise. i'm hillary clinton, and i

good evening. thank you for joining us. tonight you're about to meet the real life doctor who discovered that insidious disease found in the brains of athletes who suffered repeated blows to the head. and who paid a terrible price. now after those countless concussions, even deaths, will smith's latest movie "concussion," concerns are intensifying and people are questioning whether the beloved sport of football is simply too dangerous. >> reporter: vin is living the dream. twice. i'm standing strong >> reporter: today at age 34, an aspiring artist in nashville, married, father of four. his second shot at stardom. >> manning. ben utek. >> reporter: for five seasons he performed on one of the biggest stages in america, the nfl, 150 million fans according to the league. utek played in cincinnati, won a super bowl with the indianapolis

a bruising tight end, he dished out punishment and took it. at 28 it was over. a portion of his legacy not what he dreamed. >> at 28, to start experiencing memory problems. and cognitive changes. was quite alarming. >> reporter: a story that rings painfully true for more and more nfl retirees every season. legends of the game. chicago bear great jim mcmahon. >> guys leave me a message and i'll erase the message thinking, i'll call them right back. then i forget who just called me. >> reporter: hall of famer frank gifford passed away from natural causes at the age of 84. his family had his brain studied and released this statement. "our suspicions that he was suffering from the debilitating effects of head trauma were confirmed when a team of pathologists recently diagnosed his condition as that of chronic traumatic encephalopathy. it's become a who's who of former nfl stashes.

who have complained about or are diagnosed with ailments connected to repeated blows to the head. so much so even hollywood took notice. the new film "concussion" starring will smith as dr. ben anamalu, the real-life physician who diagnosed cte, a brain disease caused by brain trauma affecting a number of pro players. in a statement released today about the movie the nfl said in part, the nfl has made numerous changes to the game to enhance player health and safety at all levels of football. we are seeing measurable results including a 34% decrease in concussions in nfl games since the 2012 season." "nightline" first reported on cte in the early days of dr. amalu's findings. >> i slept in the car probably a year and a half out of the last five years. >> reporter: the pittsburgh steelers mike webster won four super bowls. famous, wealthy, revered. he died homeless, broke, and alone.

a heart attack took his life at the age of 50. >> reporter: believing that behavioral changes were caused by trauma to the brain, the nigeriaen born coroner performed webster's extensive autopsy. >> the heart attack cannot explain his life after football. i had to provide an explanation for that. i was extremely disappointed when i opened up his skull and his brain looked normal. >> reporter: determined to find answers, he analyzed webster's brain and uncovered a new medical condition. >> we're looking at a region of the brain in a football player about 40 years old. and what you can see, it looks ugly. >> reporter: he named it chronic traumatic encephalopathy, cte. >> the most significant contributing factor to cte is exporch sure ex exposure to blunt force trauma of the head. what happens is over sometimes

manifest in a progressive man similarly on course. symptoms at mild as constant headaches. very sult changes in personality. very subtle but diminishing intelligence. the mood disorders. chronic alcoholism. drug abuse. >> are we talking general slaps to the head? >> violent slaps that would make your brain move forward and backward, sideways, in your skull. causing shearing injuries. >> reporter: amalu's published findings were dismissed, even the nfl. >> what were some of the things people called you back then? >> insinuated that i was a fool doctor, that i was fraudulent, that i was synthesizing my data and my findings. some pretty much called me the

i actually lost my job. even national institute of health officials had been told in the meeting, one of the officials said, that african, i don't trust him. >> reporter: someone who did trust him and bolstered dr. amalu's dribblety was neurosurgeon and former steelers team doctor julian bales. >> we've got several linemen who did not have career-ending concussions who later were found at an early age to have extensive brain damage. >> reporter: they collaborated for years. he's played in the movie by alec baldwin. >> the league has kept everyone in the dark. and you turn on the lights and gave their biggest bogeyman a name. >> what's happening now, what that's nothing. >> reporter: though symptoms may be present for years cte can only be diagnosed after the player dies. >> nobody informed them that there was a risk they could be damaged in their prime. >> reporter: hall of fame junior

beloved players, played on the field and his image off of it, retired from football and in time withdrew from his family. he commit suicide, shooting himself in the chest, which allowed doctors to study his brain. >> the mood swings and the depression, the insomnia was terrible. honestly, i have a whole other level of compassion for what he went through at the end. he hid it so well. it doesn't help ease our pain and our grief, but understanding that he suffered from cte certainly is a big piece to the puzzle to help us understand part of the why. >> reporter: in 2011, the class action lawsuit against the nfl over concussion-related injuries was filed. the case was settled in april 2015 without an admission of wrongdoing for over $1 billion to be paid out over the next 65 years to more than 20,000 nfl retirees. bloomberg business estimates the nfl's revenue was $9.5 billion per year. >> these guys have been

both financially and mentally. and now it's going to be -- hopefully bring some relief to those families. >> reporter: from peewee players to the pros, football is america's game. beloved by millions. but as concerns deepen, parents have been pulling their kids off the football field. last season, there were nearly 10,000 fewer high schoolers playing the game than the previous season. >> the issue honestly is not about concussion. >> no? >> it should be concern more about exposure to blows to the head. >> reporter: as dr. a malu sees it those highly publicized concussions which the nfl hopes to address with its new concussion protocol are rare, compared to repeated blows to the head when the brain gets jostles to the skull in sports like boxing, hockey. today more lawsuit were filed by more nhl players. >> bottom line, is football too dangerous a sport?

are certain types of sports that are high-impact contact sports. >> would you let your son play football? >> having seen what i have seen in the brains of people who played football, i wouldn't let my son play. >> you think they're still in denial in ways? >> in some ways. >> reporter: he insists he isn't out to take down america's favorite pastime, simply raise the safety standards. >> as a former college football player myself i went to the theater expecting to see a movie about football and concussions. but what i walked away with was a movie about an american hero from nigeria. football. it's a movie about our common humanity as for ben utecht, "counting the days until my mind slips away" chronicles his battles with head injuries and the aftereffects. he like many nfl players forever grateful for what the great game gave them, now haunted by what

movie "concussion" hits theaters christmas day. next, why these little american girl dolls are big business. and later, it's a galaxy far, far away. and yet the opening of "star wars: the force awakens" is so close. can this latest movie set new records? and clearer skin. this is my body of proof that i can fight psoriatic arthritis with humira. humira works by targeting and helping to block a specific source of inflammation that contributes to both joint and skin symptoms. it's proven to help relieve pain, stop further joint damage and clear skin in many adults. doctors have been prescribing humira for 10 years. humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. serious, sometimes fatal infections and cancers, including lymphoma, have happened, as have blood, liver and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure. before treatment, get tested for tb. tell your doctor if you've been to areas where certain fungal

had tb, hepatitis b, are prone to infections, or have flu-like symptoms or sores. don't start humira if you have an infection. want more proof? ask your rheumatologist about humira. humira. this is my body of proof! this holiday, ford america's best-selling brand is giving you more. the ford holiday sales event... with 0% financing for 60 months on 2015 f-150 and focus and 2016 fusion and escape. plus 1,000 dollars holiday bonus cash on 2015 focus and 2016 fusion and escape. it's the best gift ever. now during the ford holiday sales event get 0% financing for 60 months plus 1,000 dollars holiday bonus cash on select vehicles. see your local ford dealer. it's here, the first gummy multivitamin... ...from centrum. a complete, and tasty way to support... ...your energy... ...immunity... and metabolism like never before. centrum multigummies. see gummies in a

why is philips sonicare the most loved electric toothbrush brand by americans and their dentists? because it leaves your mouth with a level of clean like you' ve never felt before. get healthier gums in 2 weeks. innovation and you. philips sonicare in the military, certain habits

the american girl doll phenomenon is something of an obsession are reserve. matter of time before your child is begging you for clothing, accessories, tea party visits. it can add up to a small fortune. how these dolls are big business

here's abc's david wright. >> reporter: if you don't know any girls of a certain age you might have been spared this phenomenon. but if you do know any, girls about madeline's age -- >> it's funny! >> reporter: just surrender. >> what are you going to tell santa? >> to get grace. >> reporter: grace this year's american girl doll available for just two more weeks in stores, then she disappears onto ebay where sold-out items like the grace doll's french bakery set are already being scalped for a caggering $4,900. for parents of little american girls, the american girl doll can become an obsession, especially this time of year. >> happy? >> reporter: an old-fashioned doll marketed like a collector's item like mega stores like this one on new york's fifth avenue, american girl place. the company founded in middleton, wisconsin, 30 years

roland who sold out to mattel, the folk hot make barbie. barbie sales have been tumbling, down 16% last year. mattel grossed $620 million on american girl dolls last year alone. at american girl place you can special order a doll that looks just like you, right down to the texture of her hair and the color of her eyes. every year there's a featured doll, grace this year. sage, mckenna, isabel, and others from years past. >> i have her. >> reporter: all of them and their accessory ies available only for one calendar year. even of them has an elaborate back story. in grace's case she's a kid trying to save her grandparents' bakery. there's even a movie that brings her story to life. >> welcome to the new england cupcakers! >> your favorite color. >> reporter: the store has interactive exhibits immersing you inn your doll's life story. >> here a girl can pick a mood and see herself in the past of

rebecca's time. >> reporter: there's a restaurant where you can treat your doll to lunch. and a hair salon to primp and pamper her. for dolls that are broken or bruised the american girl dolls have a hospital. we're going to put it to the test. these are two actual dolls open the owned by my two daughters. they have loved them a little too well. the haircuts and the makeup, they've a little something to be desired. now we're going to see if they can be fixed. the package shipped off to wisconsin, american girl headquarters. >> very well loved dolls. >> reporter: about that rehab process which in our case american girl comped. more in a moment. most little girls treat theirs with a little more care than mine did. 11-year-old annabella cohen from manhattan has been collecting them since she was 2.

>> here is 31. but there are a couple out at my beach house. >> that's a lot of dolls. >> reporter: she has all the accessories too. >> how are you? >> good. >> how much do you think all of this cost? >> i'm not that good at math so -- thousands of dollars. >> all this stuff is very girlie. >> yeah. >> but do you think that it's too girlie? where's the science kit? >> there is. a lot of this is super, super girlie, i don't think a boy would go near it. >> reporter: that's fine with her and her friends. girl hot might otherwise be playing with barbie dolls. >> i never liked barbie dolls, they're so tiny, you can't really play with the different pieces. i would always step on them. >> reporter: each year the company tends to sell out of some deposits and that can lead to huge disappointments this parents like lynn -- mom.

last christmas. that understanding. of course not. they want what they want. >> santa can sort it out? >> santa makes everything happen, but sometimes mom and dad can't. >> reporter: so as you can imagine, it's with some small sense of concern about the college fund that i brought my youngest, madeline -- >> this one is my favorite. place. having explained that stacy markland, the store manager -- >> this is grace. walk in and meet her. >> reporter: -- is one of santa's elves. >> this is the one you like? >> yes. >> why? >> i don't know why. actually -- >> reporter: we stop to meet with the doctor to hear about those two dolls her sisters trashed. >> our doctors at the doll hospital know exactly what to do. >> reporter: and to pick out some outfits for them when they come back. >> should we get those for your doll?

>> reporter: back at american girl headquarters, those two dolls are getting the full makeover. >> we're all back from surgery. and things look like they went pretty well. >> they went very well. >> reporter: a miraculous transformation. >> she's in a hospital gown. back home it's like christmas has come early. for the older two. >> we just got them back. >> reporter: little madeline will just have to borrow her sisters' dolls. thee at least for one more week. i'm david wright for "nightline" in new york. and next, "star wars: the force awakens" is about to detonate on screens across the country. heralding in a new era.

star light star bright, the first star i see tonight i wish i may, i wish i might, have the wish i wish tonight wishes do come true. the lincoln wish list event is on. right now get exceptional offers on the entire lincoln family. for a limited time sign and drive off in a new 2016 lincoln mkx for $489 a month with zero due at signing. many sleep-aids have pain medicine but zzzquil is different because why would you take a pain medicine when all you want is good sleep? zzzquil: a non-habit forming sleep-aid that's not for pain,

think your heartburn pill works fast? take the zantac it challenge! zantac works in as little as 30 minutes. nexium can take 24 hours. when heartburn strikes, take zantac for faster relief than nexium or your money back.

for lynn's family, the big stress is paying four hundred dollars a month in medical and drug costs for aidan. for other families it's higher deductibles, premiums and co-pays that keep adding up. that's why we've got to crack down on price gouging, cap out-of-pocket costs, and fast track approval of less expensive generic drugs. because we've got to get health care costs under control for lynn's family and for yours. i'm hillary clinton and i

finally tonight, it's the movie everyone's talking about. the hype train that has hit hyperdrive. the light speed saepdcy to otherworldly glory that survived nearly four decades. what made this franchise a force to be reckoned with? here's my "nightline" coanchor dan harris. >> 38 years ago in a galaxy not so far away wide-eyeddd dreamer created what has today become a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, "star wars." with total franchise revenue of

to imagine that it all started with an original budget of just $11 million. since then the seven films have been shot around the world in ten trees on five different continents. chewbacca is the tallest towering in at 7'2". the shortest, yoda, 2'2". runner-up, r2d2, 3'8". nothing small about the oscar attention though. the current six films together have been nominated for an incredible 25 statues and taken home 10. three of them were for special achievement awards. every year "star wars" fans celebrate may the 4th as an official "star wars" holiday, as in may the 4thn with you. fans took two days and 250,000 lego bricks to build a 15-foot model of "the millennium falcon." not nerdy enough for you?

calculated it would take 852 quadrillion dollars to build a real death star. when the first trailer for episode 7 was released 55 million excited fans viewed it on youtube in the first 24 hours. if that's any indication something tells me the force will seem strong this friday. >> our thanks to dan. "star wars: the force awakens" comes from our parent company disney. yoda said, do or do not, there is no try. thank you for watching. tune into "good morning america" first time tomorrow. and as always we're online 24/7 on our "nightline" facebook page and abcnews.com. good night, america. this car crash could' much worse. the charges the driver faces