Star Wars
A farm boy, a rogue pilot, a princess, and two droids ignite a galaxy-spanning rebellion against an authoritarian empire.
Overview
A galaxy far, far away is the backdrop for an epic battle between good and evil.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- exhilarating
- playful
- sincere
- family movie night
- weekend adventure
What critics said
Critics broadly celebrated its exhilarating adventure, imaginative world-building, memorable characters, and groundbreaking visual effects, while some faulted its simplistic story and limited emotional depth.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Luke, Leia, Han, and the Rebel Alliance oppose the Galactic Empire and its military enforcers.
The film combines princess rescue, daring escapes, swordplay, dogfights, and serial-style cliffhanger momentum in outer space.
Farm boy Luke Skywalker leaves his isolated life, joins the rescue mission, and becomes central to the Rebel cause.
Models, practical creature effects, mechanical droids, sets, and composited spacecraft create the film's immersive galaxy.
Films like Star Wars, and why
the empire strikes back
space opera adventure combining mythic heroism, ensemble camaraderie, and revolutionary conflict
2001: a space odyssey
landmark space adventure with a young hero, fantastical world-building, and large-scale action
the fifth element
swashbuckling science fiction adventure built around rebellion, spectacle, and memorable creatures
the lord of the rings: the fellowship of the ring
mythic coming-of-age quest with an unlikely fellowship opposing an oppressive power
Movie Details
- Director
- George Lucas
- Release Date
- 1977-05-25
- Runtime
- 121 min
- Rating
- 8.2 / 10 (22929)
Cast
- Mark Hamill
- Harrison Ford
- Carrie Fisher
- Peter Cushing
- Alec Guinness
- Anthony Daniels
- Kenny Baker
- Peter Mayhew
- David Prowse
- James Earl Jones
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Disney Plus
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Star Wars about?
- A farm boy, a rogue pilot, a princess, and two droids ignite a galaxy-spanning rebellion against an authoritarian empire.
- What is Star Wars like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Star Wars as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Star Wars violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Star Wars as mild.
- What did critics think of Star Wars?
- Critics broadly celebrated its exhilarating adventure, imaginative world-building, memorable characters, and groundbreaking visual effects, while some faulted its simplistic story and limited emotional depth.
- Which films are like Star Wars?
- Films with a similar feel include the empire strikes back, 2001: a space odyssey, the fifth element, and the lord of the rings: the fellowship of the ring.
- How long is Star Wars?
- Star Wars runs 121 minutes.
- Where can I watch Star Wars?
- In United States, Star Wars streams on Disney Plus.
