As the galaxy struggles in the oppressive grip of the tyrannical Empire, a meagerly equipped Rebel Alliance strives to strike a victory against their overwhelming foe. Slim hope comes when secret plans to the Empire's mighty Death Star are stolen by Rebel spies, but when Princess Leia's starship is attacked and boarded by Darth Vader and his troops she is forced to hide them in the memory banks of an astromech droid named R2-D2. Fleeing with the secret plans, he and his counterpart, the protocol droid C-3PO, escape to the backwater planet of Tatooine leaving the Empire to begin an exhaustive search of the barren world.

Eventually the droids find their way into the possession of idealistic young Luke Skywalker, whose dreams of adventure and excitement far away are fulfilled at terrible cost when the Empire's stormtroopers come looking for them. Under the guidance of wise and gentle Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke embarks upon a mission to return the lost plans to the Rebellion, enlisting the services of the bold and brash smuggler Han Solo and his loyal Wookiee co-pilot Chewbacca. Discovering the beautiful Princess Leia scheduled for execution aboard the Death Star itself, Luke's noble endeavor soon turns into a fumbling rescue and a desperate escape. All now depends on the heroes escaping the Empire's grip and restoring the secret plans to the Rebels.

From ordinary surroundings, Luke undertakes an epic journey, as much of growth in himself as one of distance and time, to become something greater than he could have ever imagined, a hero. Though he wields a lightsaber and flies a starfighter, Luke is still a young man at heart just like any other, struggling to find himself in the universe, and it is this that connects him with fans. When audiences see the universe of Star Wars, it is through the eyes of this restless youth. It is his yearning, his anger, his triumph that fans share in as they follow his journey, and it is through his eyes that the amazing universe of Star Wars unfolds before us. The original film concludes with a celebration of the Rebel victory at Yavin IV, with the young moisture farmer recognized for his great deeds and heroism. Thirty years after the original release of Star Wars, it is hard not to feel the same swell of pride and satisfaction to see Luke march down the colonnade of Rebel forces to receive his due.