A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away……

The first Star Wars movie came out in 1977. With a 97% Rotten Tomatoes score, the franchise is admired by both fans and critics alike. Over the years, the Star Wars universe has acquired a cult following. The story of the Jedi knight Luke Skywalker, rebel Princess Leia, and smuggler Han Solo has resonated with people of all ages. Darth Vader is still considered to be the quintessential villain. Star Wars tells the story of the Rebel Allianceʼs fight against the evil Empire that controls the notorious Death Star, a space station with the capacity to obliterate entire planets. Lukeʼs ability to use the force, an energy field that connects all living things in the galaxy, allows the rebels to once and for all defeat the evil Emperor and Darth Vader. Over the years Star Wars has become a pop icon. The phrase, “May the force be with you” and Stormtroopers have become a staple of American culture.

In the early 2000s the Star War prequels failed to adequately tell fans the tragic story of how Anakin Skywalker became the infamous Darth Vader. For nearly a decade, the prequels subdued fans demands for sequels. In late 2012 Disney announced that it would release a Star Wars sequel trilogy starting with the release of Episode VII: The Force Awakens in late 2015. Under the helm of J.J. Abrams, The Force Awakens has been catered to please old fans and new fans. Fan favorites, Han Solo, Princess Leia, R2D2, C-3PO, and Luke Skywalker, are joined by new-comers Rey, Finn, BB-8, Poe, and Kylo Ren. Since its release announcement critics predicted that it will break box office records and become the highest grossing movie of all time. Currently it has sold over $100 million in advanced ticket sales only.

The hype for Star Wars has only increased as the days have grown closer to the cinematic release date of The Force Awakens. Today nobody can escape the auspicious atmosphere the movie has created in both fans and curious newcomers. A wide variety of merchandise and advertisement is available at every corner, ranging from T-shirts to boxes of Macaroni & Cheese. The trailers that have been released have only increased the hype. The trailers have only shown action packed sequences but have not revealed much about the plot. The noticeable absence of Luke Skywalker has further fueled speculations and curiosity.

Star Wars resonates with people because it illustrates the fundamental idea of standing up and fighting against what is wrong. Relatable characters like Luke, Leia, and Han instill in us the belief that anyone, no matter how important, can challenge the status quo. Positive reviews have stated that The Force Awakens offers old fans a chance to re-enter the Star Wars universe. The movie offers new fans the chance to fall in love with a series that tells the never ending story of good versus evil.