When did the first ‘Star Wars’ movie come out? Breaking down the culture-defining saga

When “Star Wars: A New Hope” brought us to a galaxy far, far away, the world didn’t yet know how big of an impact the franchise would make, let alone that the movie we were seeing was actually the fourth in chronological order of the films.

The film’s opening weekend gross domestic earnings were over $1.5 million, a number that has since soared to $775 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo.

Here’s a look back at the film that launched “Star Wars” and its cast into intergalactic fame.

When did Star Wars come out?

The first Star Wars movie, “A New Hope” came out on May 25, 1977. Featuring Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) in their career-defining roles for the first time, “A New Hope” ushered in the cultural phenomenon of a franchise that continues even today.