The original cut of Star Wars has been unveiled to a select few, with claims that it looks terrible, causing many to reevaluate George Lucas’ changes over the decades. The first Star Wars movie in release order, now dubbed A New Hope by fans and Lucasfilm alike, has been the center of discussion of late. In June 2025, the British Film Insтιтute held a once-in-a-lifetime event. What many class as the most iconic if not the best Star Wars movie was screened at the BFI, only devoid of the many changes, alterations, and updates Lucas has made to it.

For the first time in 48 years, the original, unaltered cut of Star Wars was shown to audiences. While upcoming Star Wars movies will continue to follow the blueprint established by Lucas in the 70s, many do not realize just how different even the original three movies are from when they were released. These differences were made abundantly clear to those in attendance at the BFI screening, leading to an interesting reaction. Many acknowledge the privilege of seeing something so coveted, while also reevaluating whether Lucas’ once-controversial changes were a good thing after all.

The Original Star Wars Print Doesn’t Look Quite As Impressive As We’d Expect

Star Wars, Naturally, Seems Dated

When looking into the reports of the BFI screening, it becomes clear how the perception of Star Wars has changed over the years. Lucas’ updates to the original trilogy were, and still are, controversial, but maybe they have become so ingrained in our brains that the original cut pales in comparison. After all, The Telegraph insisted the BFI screening of Star Wars “looks terrible,” despite being keenly aware of how fortunate those in attendance were to get to see the cut.

The outlet described the experience as “watching a completely different film” without the “corporate sheen of Star Wars as we’ve come to know it.” The experience was also dubbed as less of a blockbuster film experience and more of a first-row seat into the greatest game of dressing up anyone has ever played. Another viewer, Cinema Savvy, noted how many of the other changes made to Star Wars made the viewing of the original cut so different.

After noting changes to the sound, the opening crawl, and the visual effects, Cinema Savvy reevaluated Lucas’ newer versions of A New Hope. The experience was described as amazing and surreal, but also interesting. The interesting aspect comes from how different the original Star Wars feels, creating the new perspective that “so many of the changes are very good in later releases.” Despite the amazing experience of seeing what Star Wars was like in 1977, these reactions imply that the edited versions by Lucas are simply more impressive.

We Forget How Many Changes George Lucas Made Over The Years

Lucas’ Changes Go Beyond The Often Ridiculed Major Additions

When talking about Lucas’ special editions of Star Wars‘ original trilogy, scenes such as Greedo shooting Han first, Jabba the Hutt’s CGI cameo, the singers in Jabba’s palace in Return of the Jedi, and many other, more overt, loud changes are referenced as negative changes. However, many seem to forget just how many alterations to the original cuts of these films Lucas actually made. In seeing the original version, outlets are pointing this out, indicating that many of the changes Lucas made were actually for the better.

Even the change of remastering James Earl Jones’ voice lines so that Darth Vader sounds better improves A New Hope. Then there are the better, albeit less noticeable, CGI changes, such as the ship and space scenes that are improvements over the original cut. These more minute, intricate alterations made to Star Wars have, evidently, only improved it over the decades, leading many to reevaluate that the obnoxious singing Sy Snootles, for example, should not be used as a reason to dub all of Lucas’ additions and updates to Star Wars as negative ones.

Lucas’ Changes May Have Improved Star Wars, But This Was Still A Moment In History

Although the original Star Wars looking “terrible” may be true, there is no denying how the screening was one for the history books. Lucas’ insistence on hiding the original cut of Star Wars and its sequels was for a reason, as he viewed the most recent 4K remasters from 2019 as the definitive versions of the films he had in mind in the 70s and 80s, with those original cuts simply being works in progress. As such, getting to see a cut of Star Wars that is so rare, and has not been seen in almost five decades, is something that not many can say they will ever experience.