The 1977 space opera directed by George Lucas that introduced Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader is Star Wars.
The film follows farm boy Luke Skywalker after he becomes involved in the struggle between the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire. Guided by Princess Leia’s message, two droids, Han Solo, and the Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke joins the effort to rescue Leia and destroy the Empire’s planet-killing Death Star. Darth Vader serves as the Empire’s intimidating enforcer.
Released by 20th Century-Fox on May 25, 1977, Star Wars became an unexpected cultural and commercial phenomenon. Its blend of mythic storytelling, Saturday-matinee adventure, practical effects, groundbreaking sound design, and John Williams’s orchestral score reshaped modern blockbuster filmmaking.
The original film was later retitled Star Wars: Episode IV—A New Hope after Lucas expanded the story into a larger saga. That title change can cause confusion: The Empire Strikes Back is the 1980 sequel, not the film that first introduced these characters.