---
title: "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"
year: 2015
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/star-wars-the-force-awakens"
fi1m_score: 77
critics_score: 83
critics_reviews: 13
published: "2026-09-20T21:15:08.479508+00:00"
updated: "2026-09-20T21:15:09.052219+00:00"
region: "BR"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

Directed by J.J. Abrams · 2h 16m · ClassInd 12 · Adventure, Action, Science Fiction

**Fi1m score: 77** · Critics 83 from 13 reviews

*In a sentence:* Everything is bigger and everything is familiar, and Daisy Ridley walks off with it anyway

> Abrams brings Star Wars back with real film grain, a cast worth caring about and a plot that is the 1977 film’s plot with new names on it. Worth your evening; the new people are the reason, not the old story.

## Synopsis

Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) has vanished, and both the Resistance and the First Order want to know where. On the planet Jakku, pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) collects a map to him from an old man, Lor San Tekka (Max von Sydow), moments before stormtroopers under the masked Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) burn the village. Poe hides the map in his droid, BB-8, and is taken. One stormtrooper, Finn (John Boyega), refuses to fire, breaks Poe out and crash-lands back on Jakku, where Rey (Daisy Ridley), a scavenger who strips wrecked warships for parts, has already found the droid. With the First Order after them, the two steal a battered freighter from a scrapyard and are caught by its previous owners, Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and his co-pilot.

## Review

J.J. Abrams was given the job of making people like [*Star Wars*](https://film.one/film/star-wars) again, and he has done it the careful way. He has made the first one again. A desert planet, a droid with a secret, a masked man in black, a weapon the size of a world. Abrams, Lawrence Kasdan and Michael Arndt have written a film in which nearly every beat has a precedent, and we minded less than we expected to.

Daisy Ridley is the main reason. Rey’s first quarter-hour is almost wordless: she hauls parts out of a warship dead in the sand, trades them for bread and eats it alone. Ridley plays her as capable and lonely and never asks for pity. John Boyega’s Finn is the nervy one, a deserter passing himself off as Resistance, and the pair make a proper double act. Adam Driver gives the villain a temper. Told the droid has got away, Kylo Ren takes his lightsaber to a control panel, and two stormtroopers coming round the corner turn back.

Dan Mindel shot it on film and it looks like it. The Jakku daylight has grain and glare, and the interiors are lit by lamps you can see. Rick Carter and Darren Gilford have built things you could kick: the Star Destroyer on its side in the desert, the freighter’s corridors with their scuffed padding, Maz Kanata’s stone castle hung with faded flags. Michael Kaplan wraps Rey in grey and cream and gives Kylo Ren a ragged cowl over armour.

Harrison Ford has not looked this interested in years. He plays Han Solo as a man who has stopped bothering to be surprised. When he and Chewbacca walk back aboard their old ship and the lights come up, we felt a lift we were slightly embarrassed by; John Williams slides the old theme in underneath, and we knew we were being worked and did not care. His new material is modest and good, a rising figure for Rey and a low two-note bruise for Kylo. Carrie Fisher’s Leia is used sparingly and well.

The plot moves by coincidence. The freighter happens to be parked on Jakku; Han happens to find it within the hour. Oscar Isaac’s Poe Dameron is set up as a lead and then vanishes for most of an hour. Andy Serkis’s Supreme Leader Snoke is a giant hologram telling his officers things they already know, and Domhnall Gleeson’s General Hux shouts one speech at a parade ground like a young actor doing a newsreel.

Then the last forty minutes turn a story about these people into a set of tasks. There is a weapon the size of a planet and minutes in which to stop it. Maryann Brandon and Mary Jo Markey cut cleanly between a ground team, a squadron and a confrontation elsewhere, and the pace never drops. Nor did our pulse rise. The earlier chase, the freighter tearing through the hull of the dead warship, has more invention in ninety seconds than the whole assault. We were bored, and being bored by a film this well made annoyed us.

Abrams did the same with *Star Trek* in 2009: he honoured the old thing so hard he traced its outline. What this film does that the prequels never did is trust its actors. People stand in rooms and look at each other, and that turns out to be most of what anybody wanted.

It runs 136 minutes and carries a 12A; the opening village massacre and one late scene are stronger than that suggests, and we would think twice about a child under eight. Take an older one and watch them when the freighter’s lights come on.

*Fi1m score 77, published 20 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Nearly every critic comes away pleased, and the reviews agree on why. The film returns to the spirit of the original trilogy after the prequels: fast, funny, and made with visible affection. The praise clusters on the new cast, with Daisy Ridley’s Rey named most often and John Boyega and Adam Driver close behind. One review finds the acting stronger than in any earlier Star Wars film, and the BB-8 droid gets a warm mention.

Reservations cluster on how much the film leans on nostalgia. Several critics note the callbacks; The Wrap goes further and says Abrams has more or less remade the first film, and Film Comment finds the second half runs out of tension for the same reason. Pacing draws a few complaints, as do underused characters, Poe Dameron among them. The spread is narrow, with the Los Angeles Times the only real dissent, finding the film erratic and only intermittently successful, with Harrison Ford its strongest element.

## Straight answers

**Is Star Wars: The Force Awakens worth watching?**

*Star Wars: The Force Awakens* is worth watching, and we scored it 77. Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Adam Driver are the reason: J.J. Abrams has largely remade the 1977 film with new names, but he trusts his actors and shoots on real film grain, so it looks and feels like the thing people missed. The final forty minutes are the weak stretch, tasks rather than people.

**How long is Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and what is it rated?**

*Star Wars: The Force Awakens* runs 2h 16m and is rated 12 by the ClassInd in Brazil. It is an adventure and action film.

**Where can I watch Star Wars: The Force Awakens in Brazil?**

*Star Wars: The Force Awakens* is streaming on Disney+ in Brazil. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How violent or frightening is Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and is it suitable for children?**

*Star Wars: The Force Awakens* carries a UK 12A and is mostly adventure violence: blaster fire, a crash-landing, lightsabers and a planet-sized weapon. The opening village massacre and one late scene are stronger than the certificate suggests, and we would think twice about a child under eight. Older children should be fine, and the film is built for them.

**How does Star Wars: The Force Awakens compare to Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith?**

*Star Wars: The Force Awakens* is the steadier film; *Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith* has the higher peak. Abrams's film has a cast worth caring about from the first scene and a plot borrowed from 1977, and it sags only in its last act. Lucas's spends ninety minutes on meetings and love scenes before a final forty of real opera. For most viewers the later film is the better evening.

**Do you need to have seen the other Star Wars films before Star Wars: The Force Awakens?**

*Star Wars: The Force Awakens* can be followed by a newcomer, because its story is the 1977 film's story with new names and the new leads, Rey and Finn, are the way in. Knowing the originals helps: the return of Han Solo, Chewbacca and their old ship is written to land on people who remember them. It is a fair place to start, but not the best.

**What order should I watch the Star Wars films in?**

Release order is the safe choice for Star Wars, and it is the order our collection page lists them in. *Star Wars: The Force Awakens* is number 7 of the 9 Star Wars titles on Fi1m; before it comes *Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith* and after it *Star Wars: The Last Jedi*. [The full order.](https://film.one/collections/star-wars.md)

### Reviews we read (13)

- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (5/5): The critic praises the film as exciting, spectacular and seductively innocent, noting it re-awoke his love of the original and turned his inner fanboy into his outer fanboy. He singles out the joyful, immersive battle scenes and the new heroine Rey for particular praise. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/dec/16/star-wars-the-force-awakens-review)
- **The Telegraph**, Robbie Collin (5/5): The critic calls the film enormously and exhilaratingly fun, with bold storytelling that surges straight to the heart. He singles out the nostalgic yet fresh narrative, beautifully styled planets and measured pacing for praise. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/star-wars-the-force-awakens/review/)
- **Time Out**, Joshua Rothkopf (5/5): The critic calls it a thrilling, playful masterly revival of old themes that delivers first-rate mega-Hollywood adventure and the rollicking spirit of the original trilogy. They single out the strong performances (better acting than in prior Star Wars films), the expressive BB-8 droid, and a standout scene with Kylo Ren for praise. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/london/film/star-wars-the-force-awakens)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Todd McCarthy (90/100, inferred): The critic calls it the best Star Wars film in at least 32 years, infusing the franchise with new energy and life while reviving classic pleasures and hinting at promising directions. They highlight the shift toward a Spielberg-Indiana Jones tone, strong performances, and effective setup for sequels. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/star-wars-force-awakens-review-848963/)
- **Variety**, Justin Chang (90/100, inferred): The critic deems it a rousing, restorative chapter that brings energy, warmth and excitement back to the franchise while noting its heavy reliance on nostalgia and callbacks. [Read](https://variety.com/2015/film/reviews/star-wars-review-the-force-awakens-1201661978/)
- **Screen Daily** (80/100, inferred): The review finds it robustly entertaining and a satisfying mixture of rollicking mythmaking and fan service that delivers a properly swashbuckling Star Wars adventure after the prequels. It singles out the new energy from fresh characters and top-notch effects alongside the bridge it builds to future films for praise, while noting some tonal unevenness. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/star-wars-the-force-awakens-review/5098043.article)
- **Total Film** (4/5): The critic calls it a worthy successor to the original trilogy that nails the balance of reverence and fresh storytelling, delivering surprises, strong character moments, and emotional highs while transporting viewers back to the magic of Star Wars. Minor complaints include underused elements like Poe Dameron and imperfect realization of Snoke. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/star-wars-force-awakens-review/)
- **Film Comment**, Michael Sragow (70/100, inferred): The critic praises Daisy Ridley’s Rey as a fresh, energetic new star who elevates the film, along with the strong chemistry among the new cast and some inventive visual moments. However, Abrams struggles to sustain tension or originality in the second half, relying too heavily on recycling elements from the original trilogy and Empire Strikes Back. [Read](https://www.filmcomment.com/deep-focus-star-wars-the-force-awakens/)
- **The New York Times**, Manohla Dargis (70/100, inferred): The critic calls the film good and praises its balance of nostalgic favorites like Harrison Ford with new kinetic energy and human-scale characters and sensibility. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/18/movies/star-wars-the-force-awakens-review.html)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Kenneth Turan (50/100, inferred): The review finds the film an improvement over the prequels but erratic and only intermittently successful, hailing Harrison Ford’s full-fledged leading role as its strongest element. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-star-wars-force-awakens-review-20151217-column.html)
- **Polygon**, Katherine McLaughlin (85/100, inferred): The critic praises J.J. Abrams for nailing the rhythm and wit of the original Star Wars films in a majestic and enlightened return to the galaxy. They single out the new cast members' moving performances and the film's balance of invigorating spectacle with grounded human drama. [Read](https://www.polygon.com/2015/12/16/10313164/star-wars-the-force-awakens-review)
- **Den of Geek**, Ryan Lambie (4/5): The critic highlights the film’s return to the spirit of the original trilogy through clever visual storytelling, strong performances from the new cast (especially Ridley, Boyega, and Driver), and an infectious sense of fun and adventure. Minor flaws in pacing and under-used returning characters are noted but do not detract from its overall success as an entertaining sequel. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/star-wars-the-force-awakens-review-2/)
- **The Wrap**, Alonso Duralde (80/100, inferred): The critic notes that J.J. Abrams essentially remakes the original Star Wars, bringing back familiar elements and characters while introducing new ones effectively. He praises the engaging new cast and the avoidance of prequel pitfalls, though mentions some pacing issues. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/star-wars-the-force-awakens-review-j-j-abrams-harrison-ford-daisy-ridley/)

## Details

- **Director:** J.J. Abrams
- **Director:** J.J. Abrams
- **Writer:** Michael Arndt, Lawrence Kasdan, J.J. Abrams
- **Cinematography:** Dan Mindel
- **Editor:** Maryann Brandon, Mary Jo Markey
- **Music:** John Williams
- **Production design:** Rick Carter, Darren Gilford
- **Costume design:** Michael Kaplan
- **Producer:** Bryan Burk, J.J. Abrams, Kathleen Kennedy
- **Cast:** Daisy Ridley as Rey; John Boyega as Finn; Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron; Adam Driver as Kylo Ren; Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia; Harrison Ford as Han Solo; Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker; Lupita Nyong'o as Maz Kanata
- **Runtime:** 2h 16m
- **Certificate (ClassInd):** 12
- **Release (Brazil):** 18 December 2015
- **Genres:** Adventure, Action, Science Fiction
- **Part of:** [Star Wars](https://film.one/collections/star-wars.md) · 7 of 9
- **Budget:** $245 million
- **Box office:** $2.07 billion
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGbxmsDFVnE

## Where to watch in Brazil

- Disney+: streaming, uhd

*Checked 2026-09-18.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, IE, IL, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, TR, UA, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media 2017: Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media (won)
- Academy Awards 2016: Best Film Editing (nominated); Best Original Score (nominated); Best Sound (nominated); Best Sound Editing (nominated); Best Visual Effects (nominated)
- BAFTA Film Awards 2016: BAFTA's Children & Young People Award - Feature Film (nominated); Best Special Visual Effects (won)
- Empire Award for Best Director 2016: Empire Award for Best Director (won)
- Empire Award for Best Female Newcomer 2016: Empire Award for Best Female Newcomer (won)
- Empire Award for Best Male Newcomer 2016: Empire Award for Best Male Newcomer (won)
- Empire Award for Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy 2016: Empire Award for Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy (won)
- Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie 2016: Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie (won)
- MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance 2016: MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance (won)
- MTV Movie Award for Best Movie 2016: MTV Movie Award for Best Movie (won)
- MTV Movie Award for Best Villain 2016: MTV Movie Award for Best Villain (won)
- Saturn Awards 2016: Best Actor (won); Best Editing (won); Best Make-up (won); Best Music (won); Best Science Fiction Film (won); Best Special Effects (won); Best Supporting Actor (won); Best Writing (won)

## If you liked this

- *Star Wars* (1977), Fi1m 88: The film this one retells; see what was borrowed and what was quietly left behind. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/star-wars.md)
- *The Hidden Fortress* (1958): Kurosawa’s bickering peasants, hidden princess and stern general; Lucas took the outline from here.
- *Attack the Block* (2011), Fi1m 84: Boyega, younger and louder, holding a south London tower block against aliens on a budget. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/attack-the-block.md)
- *Serenity* (2005): A shabby freighter, a squabbling crew and a captain who has stopped being surprised by anything.
- *Guardians of the Galaxy* (2014), Fi1m 80: The other space adventure of its decade that remembered to be funny about its junk. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/guardians-of-the-galaxy.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/star-wars-the-force-awakens