Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

***Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope*** (which was once just called ***Star Wars***) is a science fiction movie. It is the first film made in the _Star Wars_ saga, but is the fourth film in the story's timeline. The movie was released in 1977 and also incorporates adventure, action and drama.

In 1989, Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope was selected by Library of Congress into the United States National Film Registry.

## Plot

The film takes place years after _Revenge of the Sith_, which was made in 2005 as a prequel. The Rebellion has stolen the secret plans for the Galactic Empire's superweapon known as the Death Star. Darth Vader and his stormtroopers capture Princess Leia Organa, a leader of the Rebellion but she secretly gives the Death Star plans to two droids (robots), C-3PO and R2-D2.

The two droids escape to a desert planet called Tatooine, where they are bought by Luke Skywalker and his adoptive parents, Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru. Luke and the droids are attacked by desert natives called "sand people", but are rescued by Luke's friend, Obi-Wan Kenobi, who is a Jedi.

Obi-Wan explains that the Jedi used a power known as the Force to keep peace in the galaxy until the Empire hunted them down. R2-D2 shows Obi-Wan the distress call from Princess Leia. Luke finds out that stormtroopers have destroyed his home, including his aunt and uncle, in search for R2-D2. Luke decides to accompany Obi-Wan and the droids to Alderaan, Leia's homeworld.

They go into a local cantina, where they meet two pilots, Han Solo and Chewbacca. Han Solo is a smuggler/pirate, who is in debt to a crime lord named Jabba the Hutt. Luke, Obi-Wan and the droids leave the planet with Han and Chewbacca in their ship, the _Millennium Falcon._

On board the Death Star, Darth Vader and Grand Moff Tarkin interrogate Princess Leia and use the superweapon to destroy her homeworld Alderaan. The _Millennium Falcon_ arrives and they discover Alderaan's destruction. The Death Star uses its technology to capture the _Millennium Falcon_ and bring it aboard the space station. Luke, Han, Obi-Wan and Chewbacca decide to sneak around the station to rescue Leia. They eventually find her in a cell. As they try to escape, Darth Vader kills Obi-Wan in a lightsaber battle, but the rest of the heroes escape on the _Millennium Falcon._

They arrive at the Rebel base and R2-D2 gives the secret plans to the Rebels and they discover a weakness in the Death Star. They organise an attack on the Death Star in their small ships called starfighters. With the help of the Force, Luke is able to destroy the Death Star. The Rebellion celebrates their victory.

## Main cast

- Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker
- Harrison Ford as Han Solo
- Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia Organa
- Alec Guinness as Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi
- David Prowse as Darth Vader, voiced by James Earl Jones
- Anthony Daniels as C-3PO
- Kenny Baker as R2-D2
- Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca
- Peter Cushing as Grand Moff Tarkin
- Denis Lawson as Red Two (Wedge)

## Related pages

- _The Phantom Menace_
- _Attack of the Clones_
- _Revenge of the Sith_
- _The Empire Strikes Back_
- _Return of the Jedi_

## Other websites

- Official website
- Star Wars at the Movie Wiki

## Infobox (movie)

- **name**: Star Wars: Episode IV -
A New Hope
- **image**: Star wars2.svg
- **caption**: Special Edition Logo
- **director**: George Lucas
- **producer**: Gary Kurtz
Rick McCallum
(Special Edition)
- **writer**: George Lucas
- **starring**: Mark Hamill
Harrison Ford
Carrie Fisher
Peter Cushing
Alec Guinness
- **music**: John Williams
- **cinematography**: Gilbert Taylor, BSC
- **editing**: Richard Chew
Paul Hirsch (movie editor), Paul Hirsch
Marcia Lucas
- **studio**: Lucasfilm
- **distributor**: 20th Century Fox
- **released**: May 25, 1977
- **runtime**: 121 minutes (original)
125 minutes (Special Edition)
- **country**: United States
- **language**: English
- **budget**: United States dollar, $11,000,000