Star Wars

Star Wars is currently streaming in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Disney Plus and YouTube TV, and it earns its premise rather than just borrowing genre trappings. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. With 22,505 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Mark Hamill leads a cast that never lets the concept overwhelm the characters. Available now on Disney Plus — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Star Wars earns its spot. Star Wars treats its concept seriously enough to follow it all the way through. Princess Leia is captured and held hostage by the evil Imperial forces in their effort to take over the galactic Empire. Venturesome Luke Skywalker and dashing captain Han Solo team together with the loveable robot duo R2-D2 and C-3PO to rescue the beautiful princess and restore peace and justice in the Empire. Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford lead a cast that keeps the bigger ideas grounded in something human. It hit screens in 1977. Star Wars resists the temptation to explain everything, trusting the audience to sit with ambiguity. It rarely drops the ball, and when it does, it recovers fast.

Star Wars is satisfying on multiple levels — something to watch and something to think about after. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Mark Hamill 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.