<P> Star Wars ( later retitled Star Wars : Episode IV -- A New Hope ) is a 1977 American epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas . It is the first film in the original Star Wars trilogy and the beginning of the Star Wars franchise . Starring Mark Hamill , Harrison Ford , Carrie Fisher , Peter Cushing , Alec Guinness , David Prowse , James Earl Jones , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , and Peter Mayhew , the film 's plot focuses on the Rebel Alliance , led by Princess Leia ( Fisher ) , and its attempt to destroy the Galactic Empire 's space station , the Death Star . This conflict disrupts the isolated life of farmhand Luke Skywalker ( Hamill ) , who inadvertently acquires two droids that possess stolen architectural plans for the Death Star . When the Empire begins a destructive search for the missing droids , Skywalker accompanies Jedi Master Obi - Wan Kenobi ( Guinness ) on a mission to return the plans to the Rebel Alliance and rescue Leia from her imprisonment by the Empire . </P>
<P> Star Wars ( later retitled Star Wars : Episode IV -- A New Hope ) is a 1977 American epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas . It is the first film in the original Star Wars trilogy and the beginning of the Star Wars franchise . Starring Mark Hamill , Harrison Ford , Carrie Fisher , Peter Cushing , Alec Guinness , David Prowse , James Earl Jones , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , and Peter Mayhew , the film 's plot focuses on the Rebel Alliance , led by Princess Leia ( Fisher ) , and its attempt to destroy the Galactic Empire 's space station , the Death Star . This conflict disrupts the isolated life of farmhand Luke Skywalker ( Hamill ) , who inadvertently acquires two droids that possess stolen architectural plans for the Death Star . When the Empire begins a destructive search for the missing droids , Skywalker accompanies Jedi Master Obi - Wan Kenobi ( Guinness ) on a mission to return the plans to the Rebel Alliance and rescue Leia from her imprisonment by the Empire . </P>
when did the first star wats movie come out
when did the first star wats movie come out
1977
1977