Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens
Stream
Rent & Buy
Thirty years after defeating the Galactic Empire, Han Solo and his allies face a new threat from the evil Kylo Ren and his army of Stormtroopers.
What critics thought
Critics largely celebrated The Force Awakens as a triumphant return to form, praising its energy, the charisma of its new cast, and J.J. Abrams' confident direction — but a persistent minority argued that its deep structural debt to A New Hope made it more an expert act of fan service than a genuine reinvention. The central fault line was whether skillful nostalgia is enough: enthusiasts called it joyous and generous, while skeptics called it a retread dressed up as a sequel.
“both a narrative progression from the earlier three films and a shrewdly affectionate next-gen reboot”
Peter Bradshaw·The Guardian
“an exercise in fan service [that] it is only due to the charisma and talent of our newbies and J. J. Abrams' undeniable skill as a visual storyteller that the Mad Libs narrative doesn't outright destroy the picture”
Scott Mendelson·Forbes
“one of the most unabashedly creative enterprises of the 20th century has been rendered another largely enjoyable, but mostly forgettable Hollywood reboot”
Brian Merchant·Motherboard
“sufficient style, momentum, love, and care to prove irresistible to any who have ever considered themselves fans”
Justin Chang·Variety
Accolades
Genres
Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Cast & Crew
J.J. AbramsDirector
Daisy RidleyRey
John BoyegaFinn
Oscar IsaacPoe Dameron
Adam DriverKylo Ren
Carrie FisherPrincess Leia
Harrison FordHan Solo
Mark HamillLuke Skywalker
Lupita Nyong'oMaz Kanata
Andy SerkisSupreme Leader Snoke
Domhnall GleesonGeneral Hux
Anthony DanielsC-3PO
Max von SydowLor San Tekka
John WilliamsComposer
Michael ArndtWriter
Lawrence KasdanWriter
Dan MindelCinematographyFrom the studio
Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens
Thirty years after defeating the Galactic Empire, Han Solo and his allies face a new threat from the evil Kylo Ren and his army of Stormtroopers.
What critics thought
Critics largely celebrated The Force Awakens as a triumphant return to form, praising its energy, the charisma of its new cast, and J.J. Abrams' confident direction — but a persistent minority argued that its deep structural debt to A New Hope made it more an expert act of fan service than a genuine reinvention. The central fault line was whether skillful nostalgia is enough: enthusiasts called it joyous and generous, while skeptics called it a retread dressed up as a sequel.
“both a narrative progression from the earlier three films and a shrewdly affectionate next-gen reboot”
Peter Bradshaw·The Guardian
“an exercise in fan service [that] it is only due to the charisma and talent of our newbies and J. J. Abrams' undeniable skill as a visual storyteller that the Mad Libs narrative doesn't outright destroy the picture”
Scott Mendelson·Forbes
“one of the most unabashedly creative enterprises of the 20th century has been rendered another largely enjoyable, but mostly forgettable Hollywood reboot”
Brian Merchant·Motherboard
“sufficient style, momentum, love, and care to prove irresistible to any who have ever considered themselves fans”
Justin Chang·Variety
Accolades
Genres
Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Cast & Crew
J.J. AbramsDirectorDaisy RidleyReyJohn BoyegaFinnOscar IsaacPoe DameronAdam DriverKylo RenCarrie FisherPrincess LeiaHarrison FordHan SoloMark HamillLuke SkywalkerLupita Nyong'oMaz KanataAndy SerkisSupreme Leader SnokeDomhnall GleesonGeneral HuxAnthony DanielsC-3POMax von SydowLor San TekkaJohn WilliamsComposerMichael ArndtWriterLawrence KasdanWriterDan MindelCinematographyFrom the studio
Stream
Rent & Buy