The best Star Wars movies on Disney+

Given how ubiquitous Star Wars has become, it’s easy to forget just how groundbreaking A New Hope was when it was first released. A New Hope is one of the earliest examples of the modern Hollywood blockbuster, but its first hour is paced more like an art film — and there’s seemingly no end to the concepts and lore it throws at you. We know all about the Clone Wars, Kessel Run, and Jabba the Hutt now, but imagine a time when they were all unknowns, and all you had was your imagination to figure out how they all connect. A New Hope is fun, exciting, mysterious, and just a little dangerous. And it’s no surprise it launched one of the biggest franchises of all time. What also sets A New Hope apart from other Star Wars movies is that it’s the only one completely unburdened by a larger mythology — so it tells a complete, self-contained story. Unlike everything that came after it, it’s satisfying all on its own.

Sure, The Force Awakens‘ plot is so heavily inspired by A New Hope that it almost qualifies as a remake. Yes, the movie poses lots of questions without satisfying answers. And certainly, Chewbacca and General Leia should’ve hugged. But none of that matters with the giddy energy director J. J. Abrams infuses into The Force Awakens. Rey, Finn, Poe, and Kylo Ren are all great additions to the Star Wars universe. And although you’ll probably come for the fan service, you’ll stay for the delightful new characters. Sure, it’s derivative — but when a movie is this much fun, who really cares?