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Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
Movie

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

1977 • Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Woke Score
1
out of 10

Plot

The Imperial Forces, under orders from cruel Darth Vader, hold Princess Leia hostage in their efforts to quell the rebellion against the Galactic Empire. Luke Skywalker and Han Solo, captain of the Millennium Falcon, work together with the companionable droid duo R2-D2 and C-3PO to rescue the beautiful princess, help the Rebel Alliance and restore freedom and justice to the Galaxy.

Overall Series Review

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope is a pure mythological adventure film, a modern fairy tale centered on universal themes of good versus evil, hope, and the hero's journey. The narrative focuses squarely on moral clarity and personal merit, not on group identity or political lectures. Characters like Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia are defined by their courage, skill, and choices in the face of tyranny. The central conflict is between the monolithic, technologically-driven Evil Empire and the ragtag, spiritually-guided Rebel Alliance, which frames the story as a classic battle for freedom and justice. The film completely lacks the thematic elements of civilizational self-hatred, gender ideology, or anti-theism, instead promoting objective morality and transcendent spiritual faith (The Force) as the key to victory.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics1/10

The film’s central theme is a universal fight against totalitarian evil, not a critique of power structures based on identity. The heroes are a diverse group of humans, droids, and aliens, but their value is based entirely on their skill, loyalty, and willingness to fight for the cause. Character merit, like Luke’s connection to the Force and Han’s piloting skills, dictates their role in the plot. The main cast is predominantly white, but the Empire's villains and officers are also predominantly white, establishing a moral conflict independent of immutable characteristics.

Oikophobia1/10

The narrative is based on restoring a just civilization—the Republic—that was destroyed by the Empire. The hero, Luke Skywalker, is motivated by a yearning for adventure and a desire to avenge the murder of his family and the destruction of Princess Leia's home world. The film frames institutions like the Rebel Alliance as necessary shields against chaos and tyranny. There is no hostility toward the 'home culture' of the heroes; rather, the heroes fight to save it.

Feminism2/10

Princess Leia is portrayed as a strong, competent leader and politician who is in charge of her own mission from the start. She subverts the 'damsel in distress' trope by immediately criticizing and organizing her male rescuers. However, the male protagonists, Luke Skywalker and Han Solo, are also competent heroes, not depicted as bumbling idiots or toxic figures. The gender dynamics are complementary; Leia provides leadership and political conviction, while the men provide physical prowess and roguish cynicism. The story contains no anti-natal or anti-family messaging.

LGBTQ+1/10

The movie contains no themes or discussions related to queer theory, alternative sexualities, or gender ideology. The core relationships are centered on friendship, mentorship, and a burgeoning heterosexual romance that develops across the trilogy. The focus is entirely on a fight for galactic freedom, and sexuality is not a component of the narrative or character identity.

Anti-Theism1/10

The Force is the central spiritual element of the film, acting as a higher moral law that dictates an objective good (the Light Side) and evil (the Dark Side). The climactic battle explicitly teaches the protagonist to abandon reliance on technology and to have 'faith' in a transcendent power—The Force. This directly promotes the idea of a spiritual, non-material source of strength and acknowledges an objective moral truth, placing the score firmly at the low end of the scale.