Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope begins in a galaxy ruled by the tyrannical Galactic Empire and is the 4th movie in the canon Star Wars timeline, despite being the first Star Wars movie ever released. Princess Leia Organa, a secret member of the Rebel Alliance, is on a mission to deliver stolen Death Star plans when her ship is intercepted by Darth Vader. Before she is captured, Leia hides the plans in the astromech droid R2-D2, who, along with protocol droid C-3PO, escapes to the desert planet Tatooine.
On Tatooine, young Luke Skywalker lives a mundane life on his uncle’s moisture farm, yearning for adventure. His friendship with Biggs Darklighter, which is explored in a deleted scene, makes him aware of the growing rebellion. He discovers R2-D2, who carries a holographic message from Leia pleading for help from Obi-Wan Kenobi. Luke finds the mysterious old hermit Ben Kenobi, who reveals that he is, in fact, Obi-Wan, a former Jedi Knight. Obi-Wan tells Luke about the Force, an energy field that binds the galaxy together, and gives him his father’s lightsaber, revealing that Luke’s father was a Jedi killed by Darth Vader.
Meanwhile, the Empire searches for the missing plans. Stormtroopers track the droids to Luke’s home, killing his aunt and uncle. With nothing left on Tatooine, Luke decides to accompany Obi-Wan to Alderaan, where Leia’s message was meant to go. They hire Han Solo, a smuggler and captain of the Millennium Falcon, and his Wookiee co-pilot Chewbacca to transport them.
As they travel, the sinister Grand Moff Tarkin demonstrates the Death Star’s power by destroying Leia’s home planet, Alderaan. When Luke and his allies arrive, they find Alderaan gone and are pulled into the Death Star by its tractor beam. Inside, they hide and devise a plan to rescue Leia, who is imprisoned.
Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Chewbacca infiltrate the Death Star’s detention block under the guise of a prisoner transfer, with Chewbacca posing as the captive. Their bold ruse quickly escalates into a chaotic firefight, but they manage to locate and rescue Princess Leia Organa. Leia, unamused by their lack of a real escape plan, takes charge, guiding the group into a garbage chute to avoid overwhelming Imperial forces. There, they narrowly escape being crushed in a trash compactor, highlighting both the danger they face and the growing camaraderie between them. While the rescue unfolds, Obi-Wan Kenobi quietly separates from the group, navigating the massive space station alone. His goal: disable the tractor beam that prevents the Millennium Falcon from fleeing.
Obi-Wan succeeds in his mission, but on his way back, he crosses paths with Darth Vader—his former apprentice turned Sith Lord. In a long-awaited confrontation, the two engage in a tense lightsaber duel in a corridor just outside the hangar. Though the battle is fierce, Obi-Wan knows his true purpose is not to defeat Vader but to buy time for the others. As Luke watches from across the hangar bay, Obi-Wan lowers his saber and allows Vader to strike him down, his body vanishing into the Force. This noble sacrifice stuns Luke, but it also galvanizes his resolve. The group escapes aboard the Millennium Falcon, now more united than ever, and with a deeper understanding of the stakes in the fight against the Empire. Obi-Wan’s voice echoes through the Force, hinting that his role in Luke’s journey has only just begun.
Devastated by the loss of Obi-Wan Kenobi, but emboldened by his sacrifice, Luke Skywalker and the crew of the Millennium Falcon make their way to the hidden Rebel base on Yavin 4. There, the stolen Death Star plans—carried by R2-D2—are delivered to Rebel leaders, including Princess Leia and General Dodonna. The data reveals a critical weakness in the Death Star’s design: a narrow thermal exhaust port leading directly to the station’s reactor core. If a precise shot is fired into the port, it will initiate a chain reaction capable of destroying the entire battle station. Though the odds are slim and the target nearly impossible to hit, the Rebels decide to stake everything on a desperate assault. As the Death Star approaches Yavin to obliterate the Rebel base, the countdown to destruction begins.
With time running out, Rebel pilots scramble into their starfighters. Luke, eager to fight and prove himself, joins Red Squadron as an X-wing pilot. Meanwhile, Han Solo—having received his reward for rescuing Leia—opts to leave the battle, insisting he’s not interested in selfless causes. As the Rebel fleet launches its attack, the Death Star’s defenses prove deadly. TIE fighters, led by Darth Vader himself, engage the Rebel ships in brutal dogfights. One by one, pilots are shot down, including some of Luke’s new comrades. The battle narrows to a final trench run, where Luke becomes the Rebels’ last hope of hitting the exhaust port. As he lines up his shot, Obi-Wan’s disembodied voice urges him to “use the Force.” Trusting in his instincts, Luke switches off his targeting computer, relying on his newfound connection to the Force to guide the shot.
Just as Vader locks onto Luke’s fighter and prepares to fire, Han Solo returns in the Millennium Falcon, blasting through the TIE formation and sending Vader’s ship careening off course into deep space. With a clear shot, Luke releases his proton torpedoes. The torpedoes enter the exhaust port and seconds later, the Death Star erupts in a massive explosion, ending the Empire’s immediate threat and securing the Rebels’ first major victory. The moment is not just a triumph of strategy, but of faith—in the Force, in one another, and in the power of hope.
Back at Yavin 4, the surviving heroes return to a hero’s welcome. In a solemn yet jubilant ceremony, Princess Leia presents medals to Luke and Han for their courage, with Chewbacca standing proudly beside them. Though the Empire has not been defeated entirely, the destruction of the Death Star marks a turning point in the galactic conflict. For the first time in years, the Rebellion has struck a meaningful blow against tyranny, igniting a flame of hope across the galaxy. As the saga closes on this chapter, Luke looks to the stars, aware that the journey ahead is far from over—but now, he knows he doesn’t face it alone.