George Lucas’s space opera, Star Wars, burst onto cinema screens in 1977 and it’s difficult to overstate the impact it had. Produced by 20th Century Fox, the film created a cultural phenomenon that continues to this day. It wasn’t just a movie, it was an event and the start of a multi-billion dollar franchise. The simple but effective story of good versus evil, set in a galaxy far, far away, resonated with audiences globally. It introduced a new generation to science fiction and fantasy in a way that had never been done before. With its groundbreaking special effects, it took viewers to a world they had never seen before.
The film was written and directed by Lucas and starred Mark Hamill as the young farm boy Luke Skywalker, who dreams of a life beyond his desert home. Harrison Ford plays the cocky smuggler Han Solo, who is initially only interested in money, and Carrie Fisher is the strong and feisty Princess Leia, the leader of the rebel alliance. We also meet the wise old Jedi knight Obi-Wan Kenobi played by Alec Guinness. Not forgetting the villains, Darth Vader, played by David Prowse (but voiced by James Earl Jones), with his iconic black suit and mask and Peter Cushing as Grand Moff Tarkin, the cold and ruthless commander of the Death Star.
The movie’s success led to two sequels, The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983), which further expanded the saga and the mythology of the Force. Then in the late 90’s, Lucas returned to the galaxy with the prequel trilogy, starting with The Phantom Menace (1999), which told the story of Anakin Skywalker’s descent into the dark side. These were followed by Attack of the Clones (2002) and Revenge of the Sith (2005), which concluded the story of the old republic. Then we had the Disney era, with the sequel trilogy, starting with The Force Awakens (2015), The Last Jedi (2017), and The Rise of Skywalker (2019), which continued the main saga. Disney also produced a number of standalone stories such as Rogue One (2016) and Solo (2018). This doesn’t even include the many animated and TV series, video games, books, comics and other media that make up the wider Star Wars universe.
Of course, not every Star Wars movie or TV series has been a home run, there have certainly been some that haven’t reached the heights of the originals, with some being greeted less than favourably by critics and fans alike. However, the franchise continues to be hugely popular, with new material being released regularly. For better or worse, Star Wars has had a massive impact on popular culture, its influence can be seen across film, television, games and literature, and its themes of hope, redemption and the battle between good and evil are ones that continue to resonate.
Star Wars is a 20th Century Fox production.
Release Date: 1977
Director: George Lucas
Cast: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness, David Prowse, Peter Cushing