Curated playlist
Fictional story elements introduced in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
- Star DestroyerStar Destroyers first crossed movie screens in 1977, in an opening shot that lasted just thirteen seconds and became a milestone in special effects history. The camera tilts up as a small Corellian corvette races into frame, its hull…
- Galactic Empire (Star Wars)In the year 22 BBY, a trade dispute on the planet Naboo triggered a chain of events that would eventually destroy democracy across the galaxy. Senator Palpatine convinced Queen Padmé Amidala to call for a vote of no confidence in Supreme…
- SithThe Sith are the ancient enemies of the Jedi and the primary antagonists across the entire Star Wars franchise. They began not as outsiders but as rebellious members of the Jedi Order itself, warriors who decided that passion, not…
- Galactic empireThe Galactic Empire was founded with the overwhelming approval of the very body it would soon render powerless. When Supreme Chancellor Palpatine announced the reorganization of the Republic, the senators praised his apparent resolve,…
- JediThe Jedi Order is a fictional organization at the center of the Star Wars franchise, yet its influence has spilled far beyond movie screens. George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, describes them as "warrior-monks who keep peace in the…
- Galactic RepublicThe Galactic Republic, the fictional democratic union at the heart of Star Wars, lasted for over twenty-five thousand years before a single senator named Palpatine dissolved it with a speech. That moment, depicted in Star Wars: Episode III…
- Rebel AllianceIn the year nineteen before the Battle of Yavin, six senators gathered in Senator Bail Organa's office to discuss ways to counter Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. Padmé Amidala and Mon Mothma stood among them as they debated how to preserve…
- Blaster (Star Wars)Blasters are among the most recognized fictional weapons in cinema, and the story of how they came to life is stranger than most moviegoers realize. Ben Burtt, the sound designer on the Star Wars films, discovered the signature blaster…
- Death StarThe Death Star is a fictional space station built by the Galactic Empire to end rebellions by destroying entire worlds. In the 1977 film Star Wars, Governor Tarkin orders it to fire on Alderaan, the home world of Princess Leia. The blast…
- The ForceThe Force is a metaphysical power woven through the entire Star Wars franchise, and one of the most recognized fictional concepts in modern culture. In 1977, George Lucas created it to solve a specific problem: how to give a space…