The following page contains brief summaries of the Star Wars movies. Although great care has been taken not to reveal major suprises and plot twists, the following summaries do contain minor spoilers about events in the movies. If you don't want any of the movies' plots revealed to you, Do Not Read These Summaries.

You can also click one of the following posters to see a more detailed page about each movie, including a complete description of the plots with full spoilers, cast information, and more. I apologize if the scenes aren't exactly in the correct order, but I typed these mostly from memory. Enjoy!

Thanks go to George Lucas & crew for bringing us his spectacular vision

The Story

     The story of Star Wars spans several movies. Oddly enough, the original three movies released were actually intended to be the middle trilogy of a 9-movie epic. The story is centered around the Skywalker family and their influence on the universe around them. Sadly, George Lucas recently announced that he no longer intends to create the last trilogy, stating that he feels the story will be completed with only 6 movies.

     The first movie released, "A New Hope" (commonly referred to as Star Wars) is actually the fourth movie in the story continuity (hence its Episode 4 description). Due to the complexity of the overall story, the summaries have been broken down by each movie. These are fairly brief summaries. For more information, click one of the posters above, or better yet -- watch the movies.

Episode I: The Phantom Menace [TPM]

     The movie begins with two Jedi mediators (Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his student Obi-Wan Kenobi) arriving at a naval blockade of the small planet of Naboo. It is revealed that the blockade is actually the brainchild of a Sith Lord named Darth Sidious. Upon his order, the instigators of the blockade, the Trade Federation, attempt to kill the two Jedi. Needless to say, the two Jedi escape and find their way down to the planet where they rescue the captured Queen Amidala and her entourage. Along the way, they acquire the services of a Gungan, the race native to Naboo. Fearing the Trade Federation's ambition, the Queen and company flee to the Republic capital of Coruscant, with a short repair stop on the desert planet of Tattoine. On Tattoine, they encounter a small boy named Anakin Skywalker who is strong with the Force. Anakin gets them the parts for their ship by winning a pod race. Anakin joins the party, hoping to become a Jedi. Once on Coruscant, the Queen pleas for help from the Galactic Senate, the governing body of the Republic. When that fails, she returns to Naboo where the Gungan army joins her to defeat the Trade Federation's automated army. While the two Jedi fight a Sith warrior, Queen Amidala and her guards recapture the palace and the Trade Federation leaders. During this movie, we see Senator Palpatine rise to the position of Senate Chancellor.

Episode II: Attack of the Clones [AOTC]

     Ten years after the events of TPM, we are introduced again to Amidala, now a Senator for the Naboo. She is now the foremost opponent to a military buildup by the Republic meant to counteract a growing seperatist movement throughout the galaxy. After an assassination attempt, she is assigned bodyguards in the form of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi Knight, and the now 18-year old Anakin, an immensely powerful Jedi Padawan. As Obi-Wan travels the galaxy tracking the assassin, Skywalker and the former queen travel to first Naboo and then Tattooine in an attempt to evade further attempts on her life, falling in love during the process. Obi-Wan learns that a massive clone army was ordered for the Republic 10 years ago, and chases the assassin, Jango Fett, to the rocky planet of Geonosis. There he finds the villianous former Jedi Master, Count Dooku, amassing an emormous droid army for use against the Republic, and soon gets captured. After a tragedy on Tattooine, Anakin and Padme head to Geonosis to rescue Obi-Wan, and promptly get captured themselves. During the trio's attempt at freedom, a Jedi strike force shows up to apprehend the seperatists, but the Jedi are swiftly reduced to a few by endless ranks of battle droids. When all seems lost, the Republic's new clone army shows up and a huge battle takes place between the clones and the droids. Dooku escapes after battling first Obi-Wan and Anakin, and then Yoda himself. Back on Coruscant, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine and his supporters gaze out upon row after row of Clone stormtroopers, while Anakin and Padme are quietly wed on Naboo.

Episode IV: A New Hope [ANH]

     The movie begins with the abduction of Princess Leia by Darth Vader and his troops. A brief discussion between the two of them reveal that there is a rebellion movement against the ruling Empire. Two droids (robots), C-3PO and R2-D2, escape to the nearby planet of Tatooine and eventually end up in the possession of Luke Skywalker, a young man with dreams of adventure. When R2 runs off in search of a "General Kenobi", Luke follows and meets up with Ben Kenobi (Obi-Wan), a hermit who lives in the desert. It turns out that Ben is the General that the droids were supposed to contact. Furthermore, Ben is a former Jedi Knight. As Ben tells Luke, the Jedi were an order of men and women who could use the "Force", an energy found in all things. Use of the Force gave them special abilities and powers above ordinary people. The Jedi were the guardians of the universe, using their abilities to protect the innocent and uphold justice. Ben further revealed that Luke's father, whom he never knew, was a Jedi. When Luke and Ben learn of Princess Leia's plight, they leave to rescue her. The ship they hire to take them off the planet is the Millenium Falcon, piloted by one Han Solo, smuggler extraordinaire and all-around good scoundrel. He and his copilot Chewbacca take Luke and Ben to Alderaan, Leia's home planet, only to find that it has been utterly destroyed by the Empire's newest weapon, the Death Star. Throughout the trip, Luke is instructed by Ben on the ways of the Force. They end up on the Death Star and rescue Leia, held captive by Vader. After rescuing the princess and escaping, Han and Luke are thrown into the middle of the Rebellion against the Empire, of which the Princess is a key player. After a very exciting battle scene, Luke manages to destroy the Death Star using his piloting skills and the Force. During this movie, we also learn that Vader is (or was) a Jedi.

Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back [ESB]

     As the second movie begins, the Rebels are hidden on the planet of Hoth, a relentless ice world. The Empire discovers their whereabouts from one of the many probes Vader has sent out, as Vader is now obsessed with finding Luke Skywalker. After a brief adventure of Luke and Han with the inhabitants of Hoth (during which Luke sees Ben's spirit telling him to go to the planet Dagobah), the Imperial fleet shows up and the Rebels must fight their way off the planet. Afterwards, Vader unleashes the best bounty hunters after Luke and Han, including the infamous Boba Fett. Luke leaves for Dagobah to continue his Jedi training under the Jedi Master Yoda, while Han, Chewbacca, Leia, and the droids flee the Imperials. They end up on Cloud City, a mining operation owned by Han's friend, Lando Calrissian. Back on Dagobah, Luke meets up with Yoda, a 3-foot tall green hermit. Yoda eventually agrees to train him as a Jedi Knight. However, back on Cloud City, Luke's friends are betrayed and captured by Vader and Fett. Han is frozen in carbonite to be delivered to the crimeboss Jabba the Hutt by Fett, while Vader has lured Luke to Cloud City by torturing Han. A really nifty fight between Luke and Vader ensues, during which Vader gives Luke a little surprise, as well as slices his hand off. Luke barely escapes and is reunited with his friends, except for Han, who is now Fett's prisoner.

Episode VI: Return of the Jedi [ROTJ]

     This movie starts out with the two droids back on Tatooine heading for Jabba's palace. They get there to find Han still frozen in carbonite, Jabba's newest wall decoration. Shortly thereafter, a mysterious bounty hunter shows up with Chewbacca in tow. This bounty hunter later releases Han from the carbonite and reveals itself as Leia, who is by this time in love with Han. They are both captured by Jabba and his goons. Han is thrown in a cell with Chewie. Lando is there disguised as a guard. Luke shows up, dressed in the robes of a Jedi Knight. Jabba is unaffected by his mind control powers, and dumps Luke in a pit with his pet Rancor, a gigantic monster with big teeth and a hunger to match. Much to Jabba's displeasure, Luke uses his abilities to make short work of the Rancor. Jabba is so enraged he decides to throw Luke, Han, and Chewie in the Sarlacc Pit, the mouth of a monster in the desert where they will digest for 1000 years. Needless to say, a fight/escape ensues in the desert, resulting in Jabba being killed by Leia and Fett falling in the Sarlacc Pit. Luke returns to Dagobah to find Yoda dying of old age (he's over 800 years old!) and finds that his training is complete. However, to become a true Jedi, he must face Vader. At this point, the Rebellion finds that the Empire has built a second Death Star, still unfinished. The Emperor himself is on board, inspecting the station. A rebel team, including Han, Leia, Luke, Chewie and the droids, goes to the planet of Endor to disable the shield around the Death Star, while the Rebel fleet awaits their success to destroy the station.The team recruits the help of the Ewoks, small bear-like creatures native to Endor. Luke surrenders himself to Vader and is taken to the Emperor onboard the station. The Emperor wants to convert Luke to the Dark side of the Force like Vader. A lightsaber duel ensues between Luke and Vader, ending in Luke slicing off Vader's hand. At this point, Luke realizes he is giving in to the Dark side, and refuses to fight any longer. The Emperor decides to kill Luke, but Vader intercedes, Luke reminding him of what he used to be. The Emperor is thrown down into the station innards. The Rebel fleet manages to destroy the station, and Luke and Vader get off in time.

The Rest of the Story

     The story of Star Wars didn't stop with ROTJ, though. There have been several novels, comic books, games, and other assorted materials which have expanded the story. The latest novels take place almost 30 years after ROTJ. Many exciting events have happened in the "expanded universe". After defeating the Emperor, the rebels formed a new government called the New Republic. Han Solo and Leia are now married, with 3 children who are Jedi themselves. Luke is the Master of an entire new generation of Jedi. The Star Wars universe has expanded beyond belief. Through these various means, we have learned the history of the Jedi Order, of the Emperor's rise to power (and his return from death), of the New Republic's struggles, and numerous other stories which were only hinted at in the movies.