Nineteen years after the formation of the Empire, Luke Skywalker us thrust into the struggle of the Rebel Alliance when he meets Obi-Wan Kenobi, who has lived for years in seclusion on the desert planet of Tatooine. Obi-Wan begins Luke's Jedi training as Luke joins him on a daring mission to rescue the beautiful Rebel leader Princess Leia from the clutches of the evil Empire. Although Obi-Wan sacrifices himself in a lightsaber duel with Darth Vader, his former apprentice, Luke proves that the Force is with him by destroying the Empire's dreaded Death Star.

帝国成立十九年后，卢克•天行者遇到在沙漠行星塔图因隐居多年的欧比-旺•克诺比，随后变身不由己地投身于义军同盟的斗争。欧比-旺开始让卢克接受绝地训练，还与他大胆深入敌营，从邪恶的帝国手中营救美丽的义军领袖莱娅公主。虽然欧比-旺与他从前的学徒达斯•维达狭路相逢，在一场光剑对决中牺牲了自己，但卢克通过炸毁帝国可怕的死星，证明了原力与他同在。