<P> Star Wars was released on May 25 , 1977 . It was followed by The Empire Strikes Back , released on May 21 , 1980 ; the opening crawl of the sequel disclosed it numbered as `` Episode V '' . Though the first film in the series was simply titled Star Wars , with its 1981 re-release it had the subtitle Episode IV : A New Hope added to remain consistent with its sequel , and to establish it as the middle chapter of a continuing saga . Return of the Jedi , the final film in the original trilogy , was numbered as `` Episode VI '' , and released on May 25 , 1983 . The sequels were all self - financed by Lucasfilm , and generally advertised solely under their subtitles . The plot of the original trilogy centers on the Galactic Civil War of the Rebel Alliance trying to free the galaxy from the clutches of the Galactic Empire , as well as on Luke Skywalker 's quest to become a Jedi . </P>
<P> Star Wars was released on May 25 , 1977 . It was followed by The Empire Strikes Back , released on May 21 , 1980 ; the opening crawl of the sequel disclosed it numbered as `` Episode V '' . Though the first film in the series was simply titled Star Wars , with its 1981 re-release it had the subtitle Episode IV : A New Hope added to remain consistent with its sequel , and to establish it as the middle chapter of a continuing saga . Return of the Jedi , the final film in the original trilogy , was numbered as `` Episode VI '' , and released on May 25 , 1983 . The sequels were all self - financed by Lucasfilm , and generally advertised solely under their subtitles . The plot of the original trilogy centers on the Galactic Civil War of the Rebel Alliance trying to free the galaxy from the clutches of the Galactic Empire , as well as on Luke Skywalker 's quest to become a Jedi . </P>
when was the first star wars movie made what year
when was the first star wars movie made what year
1977
1977