First entry Lucas's Star Wars trilogy proved to be one of the biggest box-office hits of all time. A young hero, a captured princess, a hot-shot pilot, cute robots, a vile villain, and a heroic and mysterious Jedi knight blend together with marvelous special effects in a fantasy tale about rebel forces engaged in a life or death struggle with the tyrant leaders of the Galactic Empire. Set a new cinematic standard for realistic special effects, making many pre-Star Wars effects seem almost laughable in retrospect. Followed by The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983).