On 25 May 1977 Star Wars, Episode IV, A New Hope premiered in 32 cinemas across the USA to coincide with Memorial Day.

The film was  directed by George Lucas and starred  Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford.

Star Wars won many awards after its release, including six Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, one Golden Globe Award, three Grammy Awards, one Hugo Award, and thirteen Saturn Awards. Additionally, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gave a Special Achievement Academy Award to Ben Burtt, and granted a Scientific and Engineering Award to John Dykstra, Alvah J. Miller, and Jerry Jeffress for the development of the Dykstraflex camera system.