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A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...
—Tagline
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, originally released in theaters as Star Wars, is the fourth chapter of the Star Wars film saga and the first film released into theaters, opening in 1977. It is preceded chronologically by Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and followed by Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. The film was written and directed by George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, and went on to become a worldwide phenomenon, spawning five more films and a number of planned, future films, as well as hundreds of video games, books, comics, and other pieces of merchandising.
The story is set nineteen years after the rise of the Galactic Empire, and the Jedi Order is all but destroyed. On Tatooine, Luke Skywalker comes into possession of C-3PO and R2-D2, leading him to meet Obi-Wan Kenobi and sending him onto a journey that begins his training as a Jedi Knight and takes him aboard the dreaded Death Star. After rescuing Princess Leia Organa, befriending Han Solo and Chewbacca, and witnessing the death of Kenobi, Skywalker becomes involved in the Alliance to Restore the Republic and ultimately destroys the Death Star, becoming a hero of the Rebellion.
Originally released in 1977, the film was re-released in 1981 and again in 1997, the latter being along with the other films of the original trilogy. It has been made available in VHS, LaserDic, DVD, and Blu-ray formats throughout the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s. It was scheduled for another theatical re-release, this time in 3D, but the release was canceled by The Walt Disney Company after its acquisition of Lucasfilm Ltd.
Other uses of Star Wars Episode IV[]
- Star Wars: Episode IV (ASWS)
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Beginning
- Star Wars Episode IV: Unlimited Hope