Editing Star Wars (film) (section)

== Reception ==

=== Critical response ===
''Star Wars'' received many positive reviews upon its release. [[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' called the film "an out-of-body experience".<ref name="Ebert">{{cite web|work=Chicago Sun-Times|publisher=Sun-Times Media Group|last=Ebert|first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert|date=1977<!--The review date was not "January 1, 1977" because the movie came out in May-->|title=''Star Wars''|url=https://rogerebert.com/reviews/star-wars-1977 |access-date=September 6, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430064749/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/star-wars-1977 |archive-date=April 30, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Vincent Canby]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' described it as "the most elaborate{{nbsp}}... most beautiful movie serial ever made".<ref>{{cite news|last=Canby|first=Vincent |author-link=Vincent Canby|date=May 26, 1977|title=''Star Wars'' – A Trip to a Far Galaxy That's Fun and Funny{{nbsp}}...|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/library/film/052677wars.html |access-date=October 4, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060424081519/http://www.nytimes.com/library/film/052677wars.html |archive-date=April 24, 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref> A.&nbsp;D. Murphy of ''Variety'' called the film "magnificent" and said Lucas had succeeded in his attempt to create the "biggest possible adventure fantasy" based on the serials and action epics of his childhood.<ref name=Variety1977>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/1977/film/reviews/star-wars-3-1200424073/|title=Star Wars|work=Variety|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|date=May 24, 1977 |access-date=August 10, 2012|author=Murphy, A.D. | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801112049/http://variety.com/1977/film/reviews/star-wars-3-1200424073/ | archive-date=August 1, 2013 | url-status=live}}</ref> Writing for ''[[The Washington Post]]'', Gary Arnold gave the film a positive review, calling it "a new classic in a rousing movie tradition: a space swashbuckler."<ref>{{cite news|last=Arnold|first=Gary|title='Star Wars': A Spectacular Intergalactic Joyride|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/04/06/AR2005040601186.html|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|publisher=Nash Holdings LLC |access-date=May 10, 2014|date=May 25, 1977|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222053030/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/04/06/AR2005040601186.html|archive-date=December 22, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Star Wars'' was not without its detractors, however. [[Pauline Kael]] of ''[[The New Yorker]]'' said "there's no breather in the picture, no lyricism", and no "emotional grip".<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|publisher=[[Advance Publications]]|last=Kael|first=Pauline |author-link=Pauline Kael|date=September 26, 1977|title=Contrasts|url=https://www.newyorker.com/archive/content/articles/050523fr_archive02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061217122529/http://www.newyorker.com/archive/content/articles/050523fr_archive02 |archive-date=December 17, 2006 |access-date=September 7, 2006}}</ref> [[John Simon (critic)|John Simon]] of ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]'' magazine also panned the film, writing, "Strip ''Star Wars'' of its often striking images and its highfalutin scientific jargon, and you get a story, characters, and dialogue of overwhelming banality."<ref name="NYMag1">{{cite magazine|last=Simon|first=John|title=Looking Back at New York's Critical 1977 Review of Star Wars|url=https://www.vulture.com/2015/12/nymag-original-star-wars-review-1977.html#|magazine=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|date=June 20, 1977 |access-date=December 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151217215621/http://www.vulture.com/2015/12/nymag-original-star-wars-review-1977.html|archive-date=December 17, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the UK, [[Barry Norman]] of ''[[Film... (TV programme)|Film...]]'' called the movie "family entertainment at its most sublime", which combines "all the best-loved themes of romantic adventure".<ref name="norman19771120">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSKJW1wazQ8 |title=1977: Original STAR WARS Review – Film 77 – Classic Movie Review – BBC Archive |date=January 10, 2022 |last=Norman |first=Barry |publisher=BBC |orig-date=1977-11-20 |access-date=June 29, 2022 |archive-date=June 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629082153/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSKJW1wazQ8 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]''{{'}}s science correspondent [[Adrian Berry, 4th Viscount Camrose|Adrian Berry]] said that ''Star Wars'' "is the best such film since ''2001'' and in certain respects it is one of the most exciting ever made". He described the plot as "unpretentious and pleasantly devoid of any 'message'".<ref>{{cite web|last=Berry|first=Adrian|title=Star Wars: the Telegraph's original 1977 review|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/star-wars/10430039/Star-Wars-the-Telegraphs-original-1977-review.html|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=May 10, 2014|date=December 16, 1977|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140608235200/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/star-wars/10430039/Star-Wars-the-Telegraphs-original-1977-review.html|archive-date=June 8, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Gene Siskel]], writing for the ''Chicago Tribune'', said, "What places it a sizable cut above the routine is its spectacular visual effects, the best since Stanley Kubrick's ''2001''."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39389179/may-27-1977-siskel-star-wars-review/|title='Star Wars' flashes with space wizardry|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=May 27, 1977|first=Gene|last=Siskel|access-date=May 21, 2022|archive-date=May 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521121945/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39389179/may-27-1977-siskel-star-wars-review/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Siskel|first=Gene|title=The Movie Reviews|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1999/10/15/the-movie-reviews/|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|publisher=[[Tribune Publishing]] |access-date=May 10, 2014|date=October 15, 1999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708052727/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1999-10-15/entertainment/9910200025_1_movie-reviews-star-film/2|archive-date=July 8, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>  In his 1977 review, Robert Hatch of ''[[The Nation]]'' called the film "an outrageously successful, what will be called a 'classic,' compilation of nonsense, largely derived but thoroughly reconditioned. I doubt that anyone will ever match it, though the imitations must already be on the drawing boards."<ref>{{cite journal|last=Hatch|first=Robert|title=Star Wars|url=http://www.thenation.com/article/star-wars#|journal=[[The Nation]]|publisher=The Nation Company |access-date=May 10, 2014|date=January 25, 2009 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225203949/http://www.thenation.com/article/star-wars|archive-date=February 25, 2014}}</ref> In a more critical review, [[Jonathan Rosenbaum]] of the ''[[Chicago Reader]]'' stated, "None of these characters has any depth, and they're all treated like the fanciful props and settings."<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Chicago Reader]]|publisher=[[Wrapports]]|last=Rosenbaum|first=Jonathan |author-link=Jonathan Rosenbaum|year=1997|title=Excessive Use of the Force|url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/movies/archives/0197/01317.html |access-date=October 1, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060704161155/http://www.chicagoreader.com/movies/archives/0197/01317.html |archive-date=July 4, 2006}}</ref> Peter Keough of the ''[[The Phoenix (newspaper)|Boston Phoenix]]'' said, "''Star Wars'' is a junkyard of cinematic gimcracks not unlike the Jawas' heap of purloined, discarded, barely functioning droids."<ref>{{cite web|work=[[The Phoenix (newspaper)|Boston Phoenix]]|publisher=[[Phoenix Media/Communications Group]]|author=Keough, Peter|year=1997|title=Star Wars remerchandises its own myth|url=http://bostonphoenix.com/alt1/archive/movies/reviews/01-30-97/STAR_WARS_2.html |access-date=October 1, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061107200516/http://bostonphoenix.com/alt1/archive/movies/reviews/01-30-97/STAR_WARS_2.html |archive-date=November 7, 2006}}</ref>

In a 1978 appearance on ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson]]'', scientist [[Carl Sagan]] called attention to the overwhelming whiteness of the human characters in the film.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Watkins |first=Gwynne |date=April 3, 2017 |title=Carl Sagan Critiqued 'Star Wars' In 1978, and His Complaints Still Will Sound Familiar |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/carl-sagan-critiqued-star-wars-in-1978-and-his-complaints-still-will-sound-familiar-204912662.html |access-date=March 16, 2024 |website=Yahoo Entertainment |language=en-US |archive-date=March 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316042152/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/carl-sagan-critiqued-star-wars-in-1978-and-his-complaints-still-will-sound-familiar-204912662.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Actor [[Raymond St. Jacques]] echoed Sagan's complaint, writing that "the terrifying realization{{nbsp}}... [is] that black people (or any ethnic minority for that matter) shall not exist in the galactic space empires of the future."<ref>{{Cite news |last=St. Jacques |first=Raymond |date=July 17, 1977 |title=The Great White Void |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/20382247/ |access-date=March 16, 2024 |work=The Los Angeles Times |pages=318 |archive-date=January 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127111532/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/20382247/ |url-status=live }}</ref>{{efn|A few black [[Extra (acting)|extras]] appear in Mos Eisley external shots, which were filmed in Tunisia.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaeTOMvf67c |title=How to Watch Star Wars, Part Two: The Special Editions Are the Movies, Get Over It |date=2022-05-08 |last=Worley |first=Rick |author-link=Rick Worley |publisher=YouTube |access-date=2024-07-12 |time=20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Macdonald |first=Jessica |date=June 4, 2019 |title=Visiting the Star Wars Sets of Southern Tunisia |url=https://www.tripsavvy.com/star-wars-tours-in-tunisia-4136255 |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=TripSavvy |language=en}}</ref> The treatment of the droids, who are sold like slaves and expelled from the Mos Eisley cantina, may allude to racial [[discrimination in the United States]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hardwick |first=Ben |date=2022-07-10 |title=Star Wars: Why the Mos Eisley Cantina Doesn't Serve Droids |url=https://www.cbr.com/mos-eisley-cantina-droid-service-policy-explained-star-wars/ |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=[[Comic Book Resources|CBR]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=alife/>}}{{efn|Having modeled the evil Galactic Empire upon the infamous [[Nazis]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Klein |first=Christopher |date=2023-08-25 |title=The Real History That Inspired 'Star Wars' |url=https://www.history.com/news/the-real-history-that-inspired-star-wars |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=[[History.com]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=Mary S.|last=Henderson|title=Star Wars: The Magic of Myth|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5wROWR2Wbv8C&pg=PA184|year=1997|publisher=[[Bantam Books]]|location=New York City|isbn=978-0-553-37810-8|pages=184}}</ref> Lucas was surprised at accusations that his film promoted racism.<ref name=alife/>}} Writing in the African-American newspaper ''[[New Journal and Guide]]'', Walter Bremond claimed that due to his black garb and his being voiced by a black actor, the villainous Vader reinforces a stereotype that "black is evil".<ref name=alife>{{cite book |last=Jones |first=Brian Jay |url=https://archive.org/details/george-lucas-a-life-brian-jay-jones/ |title=George Lucas: A Life |date=2016 |publisher=Little, Brown and Company |isbn=978-0-316-25745-9 |location=New York |page=249 |access-date=April 17, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bremond |first=Walter |date=October 1, 1977 |title=Star Wars and Blacks |work=[[New Journal and Guide]]}}</ref>

The film continues to receive critical acclaim from contemporary critics. {{RT prose|94|9.1|205|A legendarily expansive and ambitious start to the sci-fi saga, George Lucas opened our eyes to the possibilities of blockbuster filmmaking and things have never been the same.}}<ref>{{cite Rotten Tomatoes|id={{RT data|rtid|noprefix=y}}|type=m|title=Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope |access-date={{RT data|access date}}|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151201053228/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/star_wars/|archive-date=December 1, 2015|url-status=live}}{{RT data|edit}}</ref> [[Metacritic]], which uses a [[Weighted arithmetic mean|weighted average]], assigned the film a score of 90 out of 100, based on 24 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/star-wars-episode-iv---a-new-hope/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130044401/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/star-wars-episode-iv---a-new-hope |archive-date=January 30, 2021 |access-date=March 18, 2024 |website=Metacritic}}</ref> In his 1997 review of the film's 20th-anniversary release, Michael Wilmington of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' gave the film four out of four stars, calling it {{nowrap|"[a] grandiose}} and violent epic with a simple and whimsical heart".<ref>{{cite web|last=Wilmington|first=Michael|title=Back In Force|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1997/01/31/back-in-force/|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|publisher=[[Tribune Publishing]] |access-date=May 10, 2014|date=January 31, 1997|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512222841/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1997-01-31/entertainment/9701310203_1_han-solo-tatooine-space|archive-date=May 12, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> A ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' staff member described the film as "a thrilling experience".<ref>{{cite web|title=''Star Wars'' returns|url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/STAR-WARS-returns-3138872.php|work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|publisher=[[Hearst Corporation]] |access-date=May 10, 2014|date=January 31, 1997|author=Staff|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508224839/http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/STAR-WARS-returns-3138872.php|archive-date=May 8, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2001 Matt Ford of the [[BBC]] awarded the film five out of five stars and wrote, "''Star Wars'' isn't the best film ever made, but it is universally loved."<ref>{{cite web|last=Ford|first=Matt|title=''Star Wars'' (1977)|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2001/07/26/star_wars_1977_review.shtml|publisher=BBC |access-date=May 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005073500/http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2001/07/26/star_wars_1977_review.shtml|archive-date=October 5, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Andrew Collins of [[Empire (magazine)|''Empire'' magazine]], reviewing the 2006 DVD release, awarded the film five out of five and said, "''Star Wars''{{'}} timeless appeal lies in its easily identified, universal archetypes—goodies to root for, baddies to boo, a princess to be rescued and so on—and if it is most obviously dated to the 70s by the special effects, so be it."<ref>{{cite web|last=Collins|first=Andrew|title=''Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope'' (1977)|url=https://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?DVDID=117368|work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |access-date=May 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222041547/http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?DVDID=117368|archive-date=December 22, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> [[CinemaScore]] reported that audiences for the film's 1999 re-release gave the film a "A+" grade.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Pamela|last=McClintock|title=Why CinemaScore Matters for Box Office|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/why-cinemascore-matters-box-office-225563/|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=August 19, 2011 |access-date=July 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719145918/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/why-cinemascore-matters-box-office-225563/ |archive-date=July 19, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Accolades ===
''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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 26, 2014 |title=The 50th Academy Awards Memorable Moments |url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1978/memorable-moments |access-date=March 15, 2024 |website=www.oscars.org |language=en |archive-date=March 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315085113/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1978/memorable-moments |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 13, 2023 |title=John Dykstra, ASC: Finding Joy in the Process |url=https://theasc.com/articles/dykstra-joy-in-the-process |access-date=March 15, 2024 |website=The American Society of Cinematographers |archive-date=March 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315085112/https://theasc.com/articles/dykstra-joy-in-the-process |url-status=live }}</ref>
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" border="1"
|-
! Organization
! Category
! Nominee
! Result
|-
| rowspan="12" | [[50th Academy Awards|Academy Awards]]<ref name="Oscars1978">{{cite web |title=The 50th Academy Awards (1978) Nominees and Winners |url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1978 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004056/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1978 |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |access-date=December 19, 2014 |work=[[Academy Awards]] |date=October 5, 2014 |publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]]}}</ref>
| [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]]
| Gary Kurtz
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| George Lucas
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
| Alec Guinness
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay|Best Original Screenplay]]
| George Lucas
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Production Design|Best Art Direction]]
| [[John Barry (set designer)|John Barry]], [[Norman Reynolds]], [[Leslie Dilley]] and Roger Christian
| {{Won}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costume Design]]
| [[John Mollo]]
| {{Won}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Film Editing|Best Film Editing]]
| Paul Hirsch, Marcia Lucas and Richard Chew
| {{Won}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]]
| John Williams
| {{Won}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Sound|Best Sound]]
| [[Don MacDougall]], [[Ray West]], [[Bob Minkler]] and [[Derek Ball]]
| {{Won}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Visual Effects|Best Visual Effects]]
| [[John Stears]], John Dykstra, [[Richard Edlund]], [[Grant McCune]] and [[Robert Blalack]]
| {{Won}}
|-
| [[Special Achievement Academy Award]]
| Ben Burtt
| {{Won}}
|-
| [[Academy Scientific and Technical Award|Scientific and Engineering Award]]
| John Dykstra, Alvah J. Miller and Jerry Jeffress
| {{Won}}
|-
| [[American Music Awards of 1978|American Music Awards]]
| [[American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Album|Favorite Pop/Rock Album]]
| John Williams
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan="6" | [[32nd British Academy Film Awards|BAFTA Awards]]<ref name="BAFTA">{{cite web |title=Film in 1979 |url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/1979/film |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429183314/http://awards.bafta.org/award/1979/film |archive-date=April 29, 2014 |access-date=May 10, 2014 |work=[[British Academy Film Awards]] |publisher=[[British Academy of Film and Television Arts]]}}</ref>
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| Gary Kurtz
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costume Design]]
| John Mollo
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Editing|Best Editing]]
| Paul Hirsch, Marcia Lucas and Richard Chew
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Original Music|Best Original Music]]
| John Williams
| {{Won}}
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Production Design|Best Production Design]]
| John Barry
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Sound|Best Sound]]
| [[Sam Shaw (sound editor)|Sam Shaw]], [[Robert Rutledge]], Gordon Davidson, Gene Corso, Derek Ball, Don MacDougall, Bob Minkler, Ray West, [[Michael Minkler]], [[Les Fresholtz]], [[Richard Portman]] and Ben Burtt
| {{Won}}
|-
| [[30th Directors Guild of America Awards|Directors Guild of America Awards]]
| [[Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Feature Film|Outstanding Directing – Feature Film]]
| George Lucas
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan="4" | [[35th Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe Awards]]<ref name="GGA35">{{cite web |title=35th Golden Globes Awards (1978) – Movies from 1977 |url=https://www.filmaffinity.com/en/awards.php?award_id=goldenglobes&year=1978 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513115345/https://www.filmaffinity.com/en/awards.php?award_id=goldenglobes&year=1978 |archive-date=May 13, 2014 |access-date=May 10, 2014 |publisher=[[FilmAffinity]]}}</ref>
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama|Best Motion Picture – Drama]]
| Gary Kurtz
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| George Lucas
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture|Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture]]
| Alec Guinness
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]]
| John Williams
| {{Won}}
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[20th Annual Grammy Awards|Grammy Awards]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Past Winner Search |url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=&title=&year=1977&genre=All |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222041310/http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=&title=&year=1977&genre=All |archive-date=December 22, 2014 |access-date=May 10, 2014 |work=[[Grammy Award]] |publisher=[[National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences]]}}</ref>
| [[Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition|Best Instrumental Composition]]
| John Williams
| {{Won}}
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media|Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special]]
| John Williams
| {{Won}}
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance|Best Pop Instrumental Performance]]
| John Williams
| {{Won}}
|-
|[[Hugo Award]]s<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 26, 2007 |title=1978 Hugo Awards |url=https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1978-hugo-awards/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507164638/http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1978-hugo-awards/ |archive-date=May 7, 2011 |access-date=March 15, 2024 |publisher=World Science Fiction Society |language=en-US}}</ref>
| [[Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation|Best Dramatic Presentation]]
| George Lucas
| {{Won}}
|-
| rowspan="17" | [[5th Saturn Awards|Saturn Awards]]<ref name="PastSA">{{cite web |title=Past Awards |url=http://www.saturnawards.org/past.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140409003407/http://www.saturnawards.org/past.html |archive-date=April 9, 2014 |access-date=May 10, 2014 |work=Saturn Award |publisher=Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films}}</ref>
| [[Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film|Best Science Fiction Film]]
| Gary Kurtz
| {{Won}}
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| George Lucas
| {{Won}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Saturn Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| Harrison Ford
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| Mark Hamill
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]]
| Carrie Fisher
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
| Alec Guinness
| {{Won}}
|-
| Peter Cushing
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Writing|Best Writing]]
| George Lucas
| {{Won}}
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costume Design]]
| John Mollo
| {{Won}}
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Make-up|Best Make-up]]
| [[Rick Baker]] and [[Stuart Freeborn]]
| {{Won}}
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Music|Best Music]]
| John Williams
| {{Won}}
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Special Effects|Best Special Effects]]
| John Dykstra and John Stears
| {{Won}}
|-
| Best Art Direction
| Norman Reynolds and Leslie Dilley
| {{Honored}}
|-
| Best Cinematography
| Gilbert Taylor
| {{Honored}}
|-
| Best Editing
| Paul Hirsch, Marcia Lucas and Richard Chew
| {{Honored}}
|-
| Best Set Decoration
| Roger Christian
| {{Honored}}
|-
| Best Sound
| Ben Burtt and Don MacDougall
| {{Honored}}
|-
| [[30th Writers Guild of America Awards|Writers Guild of America Awards]]
| [[Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay|Best Original Screenplay]]
| George Lucas
| {{Nominated}}
|}
In its May 30, 1977, issue, [[Time (magazine)|''Time'']] named ''Star Wars'' the "Movie of the Year". The publication said it was a "big early supporter" of the vision which would become ''Star Wars''. In an article intended for the cover of the issue, ''Time''{{'}}s [[Gerald Clarke (author)|Gerald Clarke]] wrote that ''Star Wars'' is "a grand and glorious film that may well be the smash hit of 1977, and certainly is the best movie of the year so far. The result is a remarkable confection: a subliminal history of the movies, wrapped in a riveting tale of suspense and adventure, ornamented with some of the most ingenious special effects ever contrived for film." Each of the subsequent films of the ''Star Wars'' saga has appeared on the magazine's cover.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Corliss|first=Richard|title=Star Wars Turns 35: How TIME Covered the Film Phenomenon|url=https://entertainment.time.com/2012/05/25/happy-35th-anniversary-star-wars/|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|publisher=[[Time Inc.]] |access-date=May 10, 2014|date=May 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140601173454/http://entertainment.time.com/2012/05/25/happy-35th-anniversary-star-wars/|archive-date=June 1, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Quote box | title=[[AFI 100 Years... series]]
|source= American Film Institute<ref name="afi-lists">{{cite web|title=AFI's 100 Years{{nbsp}}... The Complete Lists|website=afi.com|publisher=[[American Film Institute]]|url=http://www.afi.com/100Years/downloads.aspx |access-date=May 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426215135/http://www.afi.com/100years/downloads.aspx |archive-date=April 26, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|quote = {{bulleted list|
[[AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies]] (1998)&nbsp;– #15<ref name=AFImovies>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/100years/movies.aspx|title=AFI's 100 Years{{nbsp}}... 100 Movies|website=afi.com|publisher=[[American Film Institute]]|year=1998 |access-date=September 5, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529012109/http://www.afi.com/100Years/movies.aspx|archive-date=May 29, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
* [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills]] (2001)&nbsp;– #27<ref name=AFIthrills>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/100years/thrills.aspx|title=AFI's 100 Years{{nbsp}}... 100 Thrills|website=afi.com|publisher=[[American Film Institute]]|year=2001 |access-date=September 5, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225212216/http://afi.com/100Years/thrills.aspx|archive-date=December 25, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes & Villains]] (2003):
<!--Please do not add Darth Vader here, as he is the No. 3 villain for THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.-->
** Han Solo&nbsp;– #14 Hero<ref name=AFIhandv>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/100years/handv.aspx|title=AFI's 100 Years{{nbsp}}... 100 Heroes & Villains|website=afi.com|publisher=[[American Film Institute]]|year=2003 |access-date=September 5, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082823/http://afi.com/100years/handv.aspx|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
** Obi-Wan Kenobi&nbsp;– #37 Hero<ref name=AFIhandv />
* [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes]] (2004):
** "[[May the Force be with you]]."&nbsp;– #8<ref name=AFIquote>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/100years/quotes.aspx|title=AFI's 100 Years{{nbsp}}... 100 Movie Quotes|website=afi.com|publisher=[[American Film Institute]]|year=2004 |access-date=September 5, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150415022946/http://www.afi.com/100Years/quotes.aspx|archive-date=April 15, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores]] (2005)&nbsp;– #1<ref name=AFIscore>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/100years/scores.aspx|title=AFI's 100 Years{{nbsp}}... 100 Film Scores|website=afi.com|publisher=[[American Film Institute]] |access-date=September 5, 2010|year=2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225213455/http://afi.com/100Years/scores.aspx|archive-date=December 25, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Cheers]] (2006)&nbsp;– #39<ref name=AFIcheers>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/100years/cheers.aspx|title=AFI's 100 Years{{nbsp}}... 100 Cheers|website=afi.com|publisher=[[American Film Institute]] |access-date=September 5, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320160930/http://afi.com/100Years/cheers.aspx |archive-date=March 20, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition)]] (2007)&nbsp;– #13<ref name=AFI10thedition>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/100years/movies10.aspx|title=AFI's 100 Years{{nbsp}}... 100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition)|website=afi.com|publisher=[[American Film Institute]]|year=2007 |access-date=October 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150818175815/http://www.afi.com/100Years/movies10.aspx|archive-date=August 18, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[AFI's 10 Top 10]] (2008)&nbsp;– #2 Sci-Fi Film<ref name=AFItop10>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/10top10/category.aspx?cat=7|title=AFI's 10 Top 10: Top 10 Sci-Fi|website=afi.com|publisher=[[American Film Institute]]|year=2008 |access-date=October 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328081240/http://www.afi.com/10top10/category.aspx?cat=7|archive-date=March 28, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:right;"| salign = right | width = 25em | bgcolor = #F0EAD6}}
''Star Wars'' was voted the second most popular film by Americans in a 2008 nationwide poll conducted by the market research firm [[Harris Insights & Analytics|Harris Interactive]].<ref>{{cite web|author1=Staff|title=Frankly My Dear, The Force is With Them as Gone With the Wind and Star Wars are the Top Two All Time Favorite Movies|url=http://www.harrisinteractive.com/vault/Harris-Interactive-Poll-Research-Frankly-My-Dear-The-Force-is-With-Them-as-Gone-Wit-2008-02.pdf|website=harrisinteractive.com|publisher=[[Harris Insights & Analytics|Harris Interactive]] |access-date=December 20, 2014|location=Rochester, NY|date=February 21, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614055709/http://www.harrisinteractive.com/vault/Harris-Interactive-Poll-Research-Frankly-My-Dear-The-Force-is-With-Them-as-Gone-Wit-2008-02.pdf|archive-date=June 14, 2013}}</ref> It has also been featured in several high-profile audience polls: In 1997, it ranked as the 10th Greatest American Film on the ''[[Los Angeles Daily News]]'' Readers' Poll;<ref>{{cite web|title=Greatest American Films – Daily News|url=http://www.filmsite.org/dailynews.html|website=[[Filmsite.org]] |access-date=December 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809082926/http://www.filmsite.org/dailynews.html|archive-date=August 9, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> in 2002, ''Star Wars'' and its sequel ''The Empire Strikes Back'' were voted the greatest films ever made in [[Channel 4]]'s 100 Greatest Films poll;<ref name="F4or">{{cite web|title=100 Greatest Films|work=Channel 4|url=http://www.channel4.com/film/newsfeatures/microsites/G/greatest/results/control.jsp?resultspage=01 |access-date=September 1, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060417082652/http://www.channel4.com/film/newsfeatures/microsites/G/greatest/results/control.jsp?resultspage=01 |archive-date=April 17, 2006}}</ref> in 2011, it ranked as Best Sci-Fi Film on ''Best in Film: The Greatest Movies of Our Time'', a primetime special aired by [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] that ranked the best films as chosen by fans, based on results of a poll conducted by ABC and [[People (magazine)|''People'' magazine]]; and in 2014, the film placed 11th in a poll undertaken by ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'', which balloted every studio, agency, publicity firm, and production house in the Hollywood region.<ref>{{cite web|author1=''THR'' Staff|title=Hollywood's 100 Favorite Films|url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/list/100-greatest-films-all-time-713215|publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]] |access-date=December 20, 2014|date=June 25, 2014|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221100526/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/list/100-greatest-films-all-time-713215|archive-date=December 21, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2008, ''Empire'' magazine ranked ''Star Wars'' at 22nd on its list of the "500 Greatest Movies of All Time". In 2010, the film ranked among the "All-Time 100" list of the greatest films as chosen by ''Time'' film critic [[Richard Schickel]].<ref>{{cite web |year=2008 |title=''Empire''{{'}}s The 500 Greatest Movies of all Time |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/500-greatest-movies/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014063554/http://www.empireonline.com/500/92.asp |archive-date=October 14, 2013 |access-date=May 10, 2014 |work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |quote=}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Schickel|first=Richard|title=ALL-TIME 100 Movies: Star Wars|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=January 15, 2010|publisher=[[Time Inc.]] |access-date=December 20, 2014|url=https://entertainment.time.com/2005/02/12/all-time-100-movies/slide/star-wars-1977/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025110254/http://entertainment.time.com/2005/02/12/all-time-100-movies/slide/star-wars-1977/|archive-date=October 25, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

Lucas's screenplay was selected by the Writers Guild of America as the 68th greatest of all time.<ref>{{cite web|title=101 Greatest Screenplays: The List|publisher=[[Writers Guild of America]]|url=http://www.wgaeast.org/greatest_screenplays/2006/04/03/list/index.html |access-date=September 2, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060901213527/http://www.wgaeast.org/greatest_screenplays/2006/04/03/list/index.html |archive-date=September 1, 2006}}</ref> In 1989, the United States Library of Congress named ''Star Wars'' among its first selections to the [[National Film Registry]] as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant"; at the time, it was the most recent film to be selected and it was the only film from the 1970s to be chosen.<ref name="NFR-Titles">{{cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/complete-national-film-registry-listing/|title=Complete National Film Registry Listing|work=National Film Preservation Board|publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=November 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305191832/https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/complete-national-film-registry-listing/|archive-date=March 5, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Although Lucas declined to provide the Library with a workable copy of the original film upon request (instead offering the Special Edition), a viewable scan was made of the original copyright deposit print.<ref name="Andrews-NFR">{{cite web |last=Andrews |first=Mallory |date=July 21, 2014 |title=A 'New' New Hope: Film Preservation and the Problem with 'Star Wars' |url=http://www.soundonsight.org/a-new-new-hope-film-preservation-and-the-problem-with-star-wars/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728002438/http://www.soundonsight.org/a-new-new-hope-film-preservation-and-the-problem-with-star-wars/ |archive-date=July 28, 2014 |access-date=July 27, 2014 |website=Sound on Sight}}</ref><ref name="mashable.com" /> In 1991, ''Star Wars'' was one of the first 25 films inducted into the [[Producers Guild of America]]'s Hall of Fame for setting "an enduring standard for American entertainment."<ref name="pga-hall-fame">{{cite web |title=Producers Guild Hall of Fame – Past Inductees |url=http://producersguild.org/pg/awards_a/halloffame.asp  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080207165620/http://www.producersguild.org/pg/awards_a/halloffame.asp |archive-date=February 7, 2008 |access-date=May 27, 2022 |publisher=[[Producers Guild of America]]}}</ref> The [[Star Wars (soundtrack)|soundtrack]] was added to the United States [[National Recording Registry]] 15 years later (in 2004).<ref>{{cite web|title=The National Recording Registry 2004|publisher=Library of Congress|url=https://www.loc.gov/rr/record/nrpb/registry/nrpb-2004reg.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150323150021/http://www.loc.gov/rr/record/nrpb/registry/nrpb-2004reg.html |archive-date=March 23, 2015 |access-date=December 20, 2014}}</ref> The lack of a commercially available version of the 1977 original theatrical edit of the film since early '80s VHS releases has spawned numerous [[fan edit|restorations]] by disgruntled fans over the years, such as ''[[Harmy's Despecialized Edition]]''.<ref name=Hosie>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/star-wars-despecialized-edition-removes-alterations-to-the-original-trilogy/ |access-date=January 27, 2016|title='Star Wars: Despecialized Edition' Restores the Original, Unedited Trilogy|last=Hosie|first=Ewen|date=November 17, 2015|journal=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]|location=New York|issn=1077-6788|oclc=30856250 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118153023/http://motherboard.vice.com/read/star-wars-despecialized-edition-removes-alterations-to-the-original-trilogy|archive-date=November 18, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

In addition to the film's multiple awards and nominations, ''Star Wars'' has also been recognized by the American Film Institute on several of its lists. The film ranks first on 100 Years of Film Scores,<ref name="AFIscore" /> second on [[AFI's 10 Top 10|Top 10 Sci-Fi Films]],<ref name="AFItop10" /> 15th on [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies|100 Years{{nbsp}}... 100 Movies]]<ref name="AFImovies" /> (ranked 13th on [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition)|the updated 10th-anniversary edition]]),<ref name="AFI10thedition" /> 27th on [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills|100 Years{{nbsp}}... 100 Thrills]],<ref name="AFIthrills" /> and 39th on [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Cheers|100 Years{{nbsp}}... 100 Cheers]].<ref name="AFIcheers" /> In addition, the quote "May the Force be with you" is ranked eighth on [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes|100 Years{{nbsp}}... 100 Movie Quotes]],<ref name="AFIquote" /> and Han Solo and Obi-Wan Kenobi are ranked as the 14th and 37th greatest heroes respectively on [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes & Villains|100 Years{{nbsp}}... 100 Heroes & Villains]].<ref name="AFIhandv" />

The February 2020 issue of ''[[New York Magazine]]'' lists ''Star Wars'' as among "The Best Movies That Lost Best Picture at the Oscars."<ref>{{cite news|title=The Best Movies That Lost Best Picture at the Oscars|url=https://www.vulture.com/article/best-oscar-best-picture-losers.html|magazine=[[New York Magazine]]|access-date=March 17, 2025}}</ref>