Star Wars is a film.
Academy Award for Best Picture . This award goes to the producers of the film and is the only category in which every member is eligible to submit a nomination and vote on the final ballot . Star Wars is an American epic space opera franchise , centered on a film series created by George Lucas . Star Wars ( later retitled Star Wars : Episode IV -- A New Hope ) is a 1977 American epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas . Its soundtrack was added to the U.S. National Recording Registry in 2004 . Star Wars (soundtrack) . The film premiered on May 25 , 1977 and by late summer a disco version of the film 's theme by Meco became America 's number one song .