The original Star Wars movie was released in theaters on May 25, 1977, in the United States.

Quick Scoop: When was Star Wars released?

  • The first film in the franchise is now known as Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.
  • It premiered on May 25, 1977, kicking off one of the most influential sci‑fi sagas in cinema history.
  • That date is often celebrated by fans alongside May 4 (“May the Fourth”) as a key Star Wars milestone.

In simple terms: if you’re wondering “when was Star Wars released?” — the answer is May 25, 1977.

Quick timeline context

  • 1977: Star Wars (later subtitled A New Hope) released May 25.
  • 1980: The Empire Strikes Back released May 21.
  • 1983: Return of the Jedi released May 25.

These three formed the original trilogy that defined the saga for a generation.

TL;DR: Star Wars was released on May 25, 1977, in the US, under the title Star Wars (later retitled Episode IV – A New Hope).

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.