Drop-in Workshop for Families: STEM-Inspired Droids

George Lucas’s homage to the pulpy tradition of Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon changed the face of cinema, revolutionized visual effects, and launched one of the largest franchises in movie history. The epic space saga combines classic techniques such as matte paintings and miniatures with the then-new technology of motion control photography. Star Wars imagined worlds, machines, and creatures that remain cinematic touchstones and continue to fascinate audiences across generations. A Best Picture nominee, the record-breaking hit won six Oscars including Visual Effects, and received a Special Achievement Award for Ben Burtt’s imaginative sound creations.

Luke Skywalker’s destruction of the Death Star at the end of A New Hope managed only to slow Darth Vader’s plans for galactic domination. In this highly anticipated sequel, the young Jedi trainee and his new friends in the Rebellion face bigger challenges, and Luke learns a shocking secret about his lineage in what is regarded as one of the greatest plot twists of all time. Though darker than the previous Star Wars film, The Empire Strikes Back is one of the most beloved in the series, and it won Oscars for its sound and visual effects. It also garnered nominations for its art direction and John Williams’s score, which introduced Darth Vader’s iconic theme, “The Imperial March.”

The final episode in the original Star Wars trilogy begins as Luke Skywalker makes a desperate attempt to rescue Han Solo and Princess Leia from the clutches of Jabba the Hutt and closes with a decisive battle against the Empire, with the unexpected help of the plucky Ewoks. Return of the Jedi received Oscar nominations for its art direction, sound, sound effects editing, and John Williams’s original score, and received a Special Achievement Award for the spectacular visual effects by Richard Edlund, Dennis Muren, Ken Ralston, and Phil Tippett.