Parents' Guide to

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

Movie PG 1977 121 minutes
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope Poster: A collage of the major characters

Common Sense Media Review

Matt Springer By Matt Springer , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 10+

Strong sci-fi violence, threat in George Lucas classic.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 10+?

Any Positive Content?

  • Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope movie: Luke left, Leia center, and Han Solo right, look down a hallway
  • Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope movie: Stormtroopers stand around Darth Vader as he choke-lifts a uniformed officer
  • Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope movie: Obi-Wan left, C-3PO center, and Luke right, talk in the desert

Parent and Kid Reviews

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age 8+

Based on 97 parent reviews

mekleven
mekleven Parent of 10-year-old
November 18, 2020
age 11+

Rating completely off-base

This is the first CSM rating I've ever completely disagreed with. I understand there may be lots of parent Star Wars fans who can overlook the violence, but for most kids under 11, this is too much. There is a severed arm, burned bodies, a death by strangulation, and lots of warfare. My daughter (age 10) begged me to see it for the last two years and I finally relented based on CSM recommendations. Big mistake on my part.
OzFamilyof4
OzFamilyof4 Adult
August 8, 2020
age 11+

Not for young ones at all!

I am really shocked that the CSM and the majority think this movie is "perfect for sharing with the kids" and appropriate for 7 year olds. Usually CSM seems super cautious in their ratings and we mentally add a couple years onto their age recommendation, but absolutely regretted putting this on to watch with our kids. First up, Luke's aunt and uncle (his effect parents) are murdered in a horrible fire. There is constant gun shoot outs (albiet no blood or gore). Darth Vader is quite scary. One of the characters cuts a guy's arm off. The main characters are almost crushed in a pit. My 8yo left the room and stopped watching a quarter way in, and we barely toughed it out to the end with our second child. And when all that stuff isn't happening, the story line is incredibly slow and all political talk. I don't understand how younger kids can even follow the story line at all. I just dont see how this is a movie good for kids at all.
See all 97 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In STAR WARS: EPISODE IV - A NEW HOPE, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), a lowly farm boy from the planet Tatooine, finds himself swept into an intergalactic civil war after running into R2-D2 (Kenny Baker) and C-3P0 (Anthony Daniels), two droids carrying secret plans for an engine of destruction known as the Death Star. Alongside former Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness), Luke, Han Solo (Harrison Ford), and his Wookie sidekick, Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), team up with Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) to fight against Darth Vader (David Prowse/James Earl Jones).

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (97 ):
Kids say (279 ):

The first of an epic franchise, this movie helped create an entire genre and for good reason. Even though Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope came out in the late 1970s, as an action-adventure film, it holds up. The pacing remains fast and exciting. The villain is scary, powerful, and mysterious. And the world building and creativity of the universe—the creatures, aliens, and locations—are all inspiring, especially knowing what kind of technology Lucas had to work with at the time. The cast also remains compelling: Luke is eternally innocent, brave, and eager. Han Solo is dashing, rebellious, and wry. Princess Leia is a force to be reckoned with, confident, decisive, and a genuine leader. She often maintains focus and determination while Luke and Han bumble about, bickering at one another.

Younger viewers might be scared by some of the movie's scarier bits, like grotesque aliens, Darth Vader choking victims, or when characters lose an arm or get shot down by laser bullets. Vader is one of the great film villains for a reason. He's a frightening figure who engages in very real moments of violence, directly killing a few individuals without remorse. But if kids are old/mature enough to handle these moments, then it's likely that Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope will provide a solid viewing experience for them.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about violence in science fiction movies. Did any of the action violence in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope surprise you? Would you expect more violence, or less, in a 1970s film versus a sci-fi movie made today?

  • How do the characters in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope demonstrate perseverance, courage, and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?

  • Movies have changed a lot since the late 1970s, when this film was released. Do you feel like this film "holds up" in terms of its appearance, action, and special effects?

  • Do you think this film is a good place to start for curious sci-fi fans? Why, or why not?

  • How do you feel about the heavy merchandising of Star Wars in the decades since this first release? Does watching this movie make you want to buy toys or games related to the movie? What's the appeal of owning something you've seen in a movie?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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