Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Right now you can watch Star Wars: The Force Awakens in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Disney Plus and YouTube TV — and it goes further with its ideas than most genre entertainment bothers to. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. Its 7/10 TMDB score, built from 20,658 ratings, reflects a title that consistently delivers. Daisy Ridley's performance is the anchor the more ambitious scenes need. Put it on tonight on Disney Plus and see for yourself.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is worth clearing space for. Star Wars: The Force Awakens treats its concept seriously enough to follow it all the way through. 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. Daisy Ridley and John Boyega lead a cast that never lets the concept overwhelm the characters. It hit screens in 2015. The rules of Star Wars: The Force Awakens's world are consistent enough that the big swings never feel like cheating. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

For late-night viewing or a proper weekend binge, Star Wars: The Force Awakens fits the bill. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Daisy Ridley anchors it with a performance that makes the more abstract moments feel personal. If you have been burned by ambitious sci-fi before, this is the exception.