If you’re a Star Wars fan, you might be curious about the order in which the movies were made. Which one came first?
Well, the answer to that question is not as straightforward as it seems. Let’s dive deep into the history of Star Wars and find out.
Before the Movies: The Creation of Star Wars
Before we get to the movies themselves, we need to talk about how Star Wars was created. The idea for Star Wars came to George Lucas in 1971, while he was working on his first feature film, THX 1138. Lucas had always been a fan of science fiction and space opera, and he wanted to create a new kind of epic space adventure.
It took several years for Lucas to develop his idea into a full-fledged story. He wrote multiple drafts of what would eventually become the first Star Wars movie, which was originally titled “Adventures of Luke Starkiller, as taken from the ‘Journal of the Whills’, Saga I: The Star Wars.” Yes, that was really the original title!
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
The movie we now know as “Star Wars” was released in 1977. However, at that time it was actually called “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.”
This is because Lucas had always envisioned his story as a series of nine movies (which eventually became six). He started with Episode IV because he felt it had the most exciting and accessible story.
The movie follows Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia Organa, and Han Solo as they battle against Darth Vader and the evil Empire. It was an instant success and became one of the highest-grossing films of all time.
The Empire Strikes Back
After the success of “A New Hope,” Lucas got to work on his second movie in 1980. “The Empire Strikes Back” picks up where the first movie left off, with Luke training to become a Jedi while the Empire continues to hunt down the rebels.
This movie is often considered one of the best in the series, due in part to its iconic twist ending. It also introduced new characters like Yoda and Lando Calrissian.
Return of the Jedi
The original trilogy came to a close in 1983 with “Return of the Jedi.” This movie sees Luke, Leia, and Han teaming up once again to take down the Empire’s new superweapon, the Death Star II.
While some fans consider this movie to be weaker than its predecessors, it still has its share of memorable moments and exciting action scenes.
The Prequel Trilogy
After a long hiatus, George Lucas returned to Star Wars in 1999 with “Episode I: The Phantom Menace.” This movie takes place before the events of the original trilogy and follows young Anakin Skywalker as he begins his journey towards becoming Darth Vader.
The prequel trilogy was met with mixed reviews from fans and critics alike. While some appreciated seeing more of the Star Wars universe and learning about Anakin’s backstory, others felt that the movies lacked the charm and excitement of the originals.
The Sequel Trilogy
In 2015, Disney acquired Lucasfilm and announced that they would be continuing the Star Wars saga with a new trilogy. The first movie, “The Force Awakens,” was released in 2015 and introduced new characters like Rey, Finn, and Kylo Ren while also bringing back old favorites like Han Solo and Chewbacca.
The sequel trilogy has been similarly divisive among fans. Some appreciate the fresh perspective brought by new writers and directors, while others feel that it doesn’t live up to their expectations for what a Star Wars movie should be.
Conclusion
So, which Star Wars movie was made first? Technically, it’s “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.”
However, the story of Star Wars is much more complex than that. With multiple trilogies and spin-offs, there are plenty of different places to start your journey through the galaxy far, far away.
