Star Wars: The Force Awakens, released in theaters on Dec. 18, 2015, is the sequel to Return of the Jedi (1983), it is the first installment of the Star Wars sequel trilogy and chronologically the seventh film of the “Skywalker Saga.”
Set thirty years after the defeat of the Galactic Empire, the galaxy faces a new threat: the First Order, led by the mysterious Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) and the formidable General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson).
The story begins on Jakku, where Resistance pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) receives a map to the whereabouts of the missing Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) from Lor San Tekka (Max von Sydow).
When the First Order attacks, Poe hides the map in his droid, BB-8. In the chaos, a stormtrooper named FN-2187 (John Boyega) experiences a crisis of conscience and defects, rescuing Poe and eventually crashing back on Jakku.
He teams up with a resilient scavenger named Rey (Daisy Ridley), and together with BB-8, they escape the planet in a “garbage” ship that turns out to be the Millennium Falcon.
The duo is soon intercepted by the ship’s original owners: Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew). Han joins their mission, seeking the help of the wise, ancient Maz Kanata (Lupita Nyong’o).
However, they are pursued by Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), a dark warrior obsessed with the legacy of Darth Vader.
As the First Order prepares to fire the Starkiller Base—a weapon capable of destroying entire star systems—the group reunites with General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) and long-time droids C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) and R2-D2.
The film builds to a heart-wrenching confrontation between Han and his son, Kylo Ren, leading to a desperate lightsaber duel in the snow where Rey discovers her own powerful connection to the Force.
Directed by J.J. Abrams and co-written by Lawrence Kasdan, The Force Awakens was a monumental cinematic event, shattering box office records and grossing over $2 billion worldwide.
The film was followed by The Last Jedi (2017) and The Rise of Skywalker (2019), rounding out the Star Wars sequel trilogy.
Harrison Ford in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Photo/Walt Disney Studios
Motion Pictures)
Reception for Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Star Wars: The Force Awakens grossed $247.97 million on its opening weekend, finishing No. 1 at the box office.
The film would gross $2.1 billion worldwide.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens has a score of 93% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Lasting Legacy
Star Wars: The Force Awakens‘ legacy is defined by its successful “passing of the torch,” seamlessly blending the return of the original icons with a diverse, charismatic new cast.
Abrams chose to return the franchise to its roots, prioritizing practical effects and tactile sets over the heavy CGI of the prequel era.
This gave the film a grounded, nostalgic energy that revitalized the global Star Wars fandom.
While some critics noted that the plot mirrored A New Hope quite closely, the film’s emotional resonance and the introduction of Rey as a new kind of Jedi hero ensured its place as a modern classic.
It established the blueprint for the “legacy sequel” and launched a new era of Star Wars storytelling that continues to expand across film and television.
