Plot Script Spoilers: The film opens with Princess Leia's Tantive 4 blockade runner under attack by an Imperial star destroyer while above the skies of the remote planet called Tatooine. Princess Leia hides the secret plans for the death star in R2-D2 with a holographic message for Obi-Wan Kenobi. R2-D2 and C-3PO escape from the Tantive 4 inside an escape pod. The two droids safely land on the surface of Tatooine. Princess Leia is captured by Darth Vader. A group of storm troopers is sent to Tatooine to find the plans for the death star.

R2-D2 and C-3PO get in an argument and decide to go in different directions on Tatooine. Both droids end up being captured by the Jawas separately. The sand crawler, owned by the Jawas, arrives at the homestead of Owen and Beru Lars, the uncle and aunt of Luke Skywalker. Owen eventually purchases the two droids. Luke Skywalker sees the holographic message of Princess Leia projected from R2-D2 by accident while working on R2-D2. Eventually R2-D2 escapes. Luke and C-3PO chase after R2-D2 in a land speeder. Luke and C-3PO are attacked by Tusken Raiders, but are rescued by Obi-Wan Kenobi.

At Obi-Wan's home, Obi-Wan reveals secrets of the past to Luke. After hearing enough, Luke decides to return home and not get involved with fighting the Empire. Luke returns to the Lars homestead to find Owen and Beru Lars deceased at the hands of the storm troopers. Luke returns to Obi-Wan and agrees to become a Jedi Knight and seek revenge against the Empire. Luke, Obi-Wan and the droids arrive in Mos Eisley to find star ship transport to Alderaan. In the cantina, the heroes meet Han Solo and Chewbacca, who agree to take the heroes to Alderaan at a steep price in the Millennium Falcon.

The heroes hyper space to the Alderaan star system, but discover that Alderaan is gone. The Empire detects the presence of the Millennium Falcon and the star ship is pulled inside the death star with a tractor beam. The heroes hide in hidden cargo compartments in the Millennium Falcon to avoid being found by the Empire. The heroes eventually learn through espionage that Princess Leia is on the death star and scheduled for termination. Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Chewbacca proceed to the detention center to rescue Princess Leia. Obi-Wan deactivates the tractor beam and is fated to meet Darth Vader again for the first time in nearly two decades.

The heroes find Princess Leia and after much excitement make it back to the Millennium Falcon. Luke watches as Obi-Wan is apparently killed by Darth Vader in a light saber duel. In actuality, Obi-Wan has eluded the Sith by becoming one with the Force. The heroes escape safely from the death star and hyper space to the secret Rebel base at Yavin 4. The heroes don't realize the Empire has placed a tracking device on board the Millennium Falcon and the heroes unwittingly lead the Empire to the Rebel base.

The death star arrives in the Yavin 4 star system with the intent of destroying the Rebel base. The Rebel Alliance detects a weakness in the death star engineering schematics and launch X-Wing fighters to destroy the death star before the death star arrives in range of the Rebel base to fire the death star's super weapon. Han Solo and Chewbacca avoid the battle in order to enjoy the reward money for saving Princess Leia. The Rebel X-Wings are one by one destroyed by Imperial tie fighters as the X-Wings attempt to destroy the death star. Finally, Luke Skywalker makes a run at destroying the death star in his X-Wing.

However, it appears Darth Vader in his tie fighter will kill Luke. At the last possible second, Han Solo and Chewbacca appear out of nowhere in the Millennium Falcon and thwart Darth Vader before he can kill Luke. Vader's tie fighter is sent wildly into deep space. Vader retreats to fight another day. Obi-Wan guides Luke in successfully destroying the death star. The heroes arrive back at Yavin 4 and are rewarded for their valor with medals.