Star Wars
Movie, 1977, The '70s, Set in The main title
Star Wars is #2 of 29 in release order and #2 of 29 in chronological order in the John Williams.
The story
Princess Leia is captured and held hostage by the evil Imperial forces in their effort to take over the galactic Empire. Venturesome Luke Skywalker and dashing captain Han Solo team together with the loveable robot duo R2-D2 and C-3PO to rescue the beautiful princess and restore peace and justice in the Empire.
Star Wars recap
Star Wars (1977) follows Luke Skywalker, a farm boy on a desert planet, who joins a rebellion to rescue Princess Leia and destroy the Empire's Death Star. George Lucas writes and directs this space opera, later retitled Episode IV: A New Hope. Princess Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) hides stolen Death Star plans in the droid R2-D2 before Darth Vader (David Prowse, voiced by James Earl Jones) captures her. The droids end up with Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), whose search for R2-D2 leads him to the old Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness), who tells him about the Force and gives him his father's lightsaber. After stormtroopers kill his aunt and uncle, Luke hires the smuggler Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and his partner Chewbacca to fly them to Alderaan, which Grand Moff Tarkin (Peter Cushing) destroys. Pulled aboard the Death Star, they rescue Leia, and Obi-Wan dies fighting Vader. The main title fanfare opens the film over the scrolling text and returns whenever Luke and the heroes act; in this list Star Wars follows Jaws and comes before Close Encounters.
Star Wars ending explained
Star Wars ends with Luke destroying the Death Star by firing torpedoes into a small exhaust port, then receiving a medal from Leia beside Han and Chewbacca. Han first leaves with his reward, and Vader closes in on Luke in the trench until Han returns in the Millennium Falcon and knocks him away. Guided by Obi-Wan's voice, Luke switches off his targeting computer and trusts the Force. Vader spins off into space, setting up The Empire Strikes Back in 1980.
Post-credits scenes
No. Star Wars has no mid- or post-credits scene.
Where to watch Star Wars
Star Wars is streaming on Disney+ and fuboTV in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 8.6/10, Rotten Tomatoes 93%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Jaws, before Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
- Chronological order: after Jaws, before Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
Cast
- Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker
- Harrison Ford as Han Solo
- Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia Organa
- Peter Cushing as Grand Moff Tarkin
- Alec Guinness as Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi
- Anthony Daniels as C-3PO
- Kenny Baker as R2-D2
- Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca
- David Prowse as Darth Vader (performer)
- James Earl Jones as Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
- Phil Brown as Uncle Owen
- Shelagh Fraser as Aunt Beru
Directed by George Lucas.