Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

Released May 25, 1977

2h 1m

Sci-Fi

Adventure

Action

Fantasy

TRAILER

for Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope: Teaser Trailer 1

List

93%

Tomatometer

144 Reviews

96%

Audience Score

250,000+ Ratings

The Imperial Forces -- under orders from cruel Darth Vader (David Prowse) -- hold Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) hostage, in their efforts to quell the rebellion against the Galactic Empire. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Han Solo (Harrison Ford), captain of the Millennium Falcon, work together with the companionable droid duo R2-D2 (Kenny Baker) and C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) to rescue the beautiful princess, help the Rebel Alliance, and restore freedom and justice to the Galaxy.

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

In Theaters

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Disney+

Apple TV

Watch Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope with a subscription on Disney+, rent on Prime Video, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

Critics Consensus

A legendarily expansive and ambitious start to the sci-fi saga, George Lucas opened our eyes to the possibilities of blockbuster filmmaking and things have never been the same.

Read Critics Reviews

Tom Shales

NPR

The greatest kids' picture for adults since "The Wizard of Oz."

May 4, 2022

Full Review

Molly Haskell

Village Voice

I don't see how I can come out ahead panning Star Wars, George Lucas's science-fiction film that has been acclaimed by children of all ages as the Fun Movie of the year.

Feb 27, 2020

Full Review

Richard Combs

Sight & Sound

Without the simple spiritual convictions of his predecessors, or the philosophical speculations of his contemporaries, Lucas has rather left his audience out in the cold.

Dec 12, 2019

Full Review

Carson Timar

ClapperCast

There truly is just a magic to this film that is undeniably fun and touching.

Jun 7, 2024

Full Review

Akhil Arora

AkhilArora.com

[There’s] a charm to the simplicity, be it the cantina, the low-IQ Stormtroopers, or the film’s structure itself.

May 31, 2024

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

...seeing the original Star Wars in 1978 was like getting hit by lightning…made your heart soar and your knees weak as you stumbled out of your local flea-pit, squinting in the bleak light of the real world…

Rated: 5/5

May 4, 2024

Full Review

Read all reviews

Kevin J

Saw it in the theaters in 1977, I was 3. Shaped my childhood. Loved the SNES games released in the early 90s. Rediscovered my love for Star Wars in 1995 when my sister gave me a semi-joke Christmas gift of a bunch of the new Hasbro figures. What new fans will never understand about original fans is we watched the story develop, we ate any crumb available until the next movie, and then licked our fingers. We weren't riding on a road, we were in the backseat of the construction vehicles that paved the road.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/07/24

Full Review

Luke S

The original series will never be topped on the sci-fi realm!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/06/24

Full Review

Jack C

Can't wait for the sequel!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/31/24

Full Review

Matthew R

One of the greatest movies of all time!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/27/24

Full Review

Rick S

One of the greatest examples of the "Hero's Journey" ever.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/25/24

Full Review

Audience Member

NOT BAD BUTSOME PARTS ARE SLOW LIKE REALLY SLOW BUT STILL A GOOD MOVIES BUT THE SEQUELS OF THE ORIGINAL TRILOGY ARE BETTER

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/24/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

George Lucas

Director

Mark Hamill

Luke Skywalker

Harrison Ford

Han Solo

Carrie Fisher

Princess Leia Organa

Alec Guinness

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Peter Cushing

Grand Moff Tarkin

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

95%

97%

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

TRAILER

for Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi

82%

94%

Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi

TRAILER

for Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

52%

59%

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

TRAILER

for Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

Superman II

83%

76%

Superman II

Howard the Duck

13%

38%

Howard the Duck

Discover more movies and TV shows.

8 More LGBTQIA+ Outlets from Regional Archives in Atlanta, Birmingham, Houston, and Beyond

87 Fearless Women Movie Heroes Who Inspire Us

Know Your Critic: Rolling Stone Senior Editor David Fear

Best Star Wars Moments Ever

24:20

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope: Teaser Trailer 1

2:01

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope: Trailer 1

1:07

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Director: George Lucas
Producer: Gary Kurtz
Screenwriter: George Lucas
Production Co: Lucasfilm Ltd.
Rating: PG
Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure, Action, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 25, 1977, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Aug 13, 1982
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $345
Runtime: 2h 1m
Sound Mix: Surround

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch!

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

Let's keep in touch!

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

Where to Watch