STAR WARS
Great science fiction adventure with a mystical worldview.
Should You Watch It?
Yes. STAR WARS remains a thrilling piece of science fiction, filled with action, adventure, humor, love and pathos. Its restored color, loud and effective THX sound, imaginative creatures and battle sequences make it pure entertainment, while its central story gives viewers the satisfaction of good triumphing over evil.
The main concern is theological rather than artistic. The Force works as a device to move the plot forward, but the film presents it as an impersonal power—“spirit over matter”—that empowers people and controls circumstances. That New Age worldview needs discernment, especially when younger viewers are watching.
You can enjoy STAR WARS with your family while talking clearly about where its ideas differ from biblical truth. The practical answer: it is worth the trip, with parents guiding younger children through its mystical themes.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESThe Imperial Galactic Empire seeks to suppress the universe under the rule of Grand Moff Tarkin and his evil aide, Darth Vader. Standing against them are rebel leader Princess Leia, farmer Luke Skywalker and starship pilot Han Solo, aided by robots, rebels, Obi-Wan Kenobi and the light side of the Force.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means STAR WARS is excellent entertainment. Seeing the original cast on the big screen remains a thrill, and the restored color and digital sound make the experience loud, clear and effective. The film is loaded with action, adventure, humor, love and pathos.
The new computer-animated creatures are fun to watch, though some scenes now feel overly busy. The added Jabba the Hutt scene may interest viewers, but it can also seem redundant and extraneous to those who value the integrity of the original story.
The Worldview
STAR WARS presents a clear conflict between good and evil, with underdogs ultimately defeating the Evil Empire. That moral structure gives the adventure much of its appeal. The film also values courage, loyalty and resistance to oppression.
Its central theological idea is more troubling. The Force is described as “spirit over matter,” an impersonal, monistic power that empowers people and controls circumstances. As a plot device, it works. As a theological statement, it departs sharply from biblical Christianity by replacing the personal God of Scripture with a mystical force.
The film’s moral elements do not erase that worldview. Viewers can appreciate its imaginative storytelling while helping younger audiences distinguish the Force from the living God. Scripture teaches, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness” (Ephesians 6:12). The Bible acknowledges spiritual reality, but not an impersonal power controlled through human ability.
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Pagan worldview of impersonal, monistic force empowering man and controlling circumstances with many moral elements; 1 “hell” & 1 “damn”; moderate action violence including star fighter planes shooting & exploding, explosions, abductions, distant view of two burnt corpses, shooting deaths, & dismemberment; no sex; no nudity; alcohol use implied; and, smoking
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The film presents the Force as an impersonal power. How is that different from the personal God revealed in Scripture?
Deuteronomy 6:4 · Acts 17:24–25STAR WARS celebrates good triumphing over evil. What does the Bible say about the reality of spiritual conflict?
Ephesians 6:12 · 1 Peter 5:8–9The heroes resist an empire that seeks to suppress the universe. When should Christians resist wrongdoing, and how should they do it?
Acts 5:29 · Romans 12:17–21Which parts of the film’s moral vision reflect biblical values, and which parts should your family view with discernment?
Philippians 4:8 · 1 Thessalonians 5:21The Final Word
STAR WARS is imaginative, exciting and still great science fiction. Its action and mystical worldview deserve a thoughtful family conversation, but its entertainment value and moral conflict remain strong. For viewers of all ages, it is WORTH THE TRIP when watched with discernment.
