The Original 1977 Version of Star Wars is Now Streaming – Here’s Where to See It
For years, die-hard Star Wars fans have hoped to one day see the original theatrical version of the 1977 film get an official release. While that still hasn’t happened, you can now stream the long-lost version George Lucas has since disavowed. We just can’t guarantee how long you will be able to see it.
Of course, the current Special Edition of Star Wars is available on Disney+, but Disney and creator George Lucas have made it clear they have no intention of releasing the original theatrical version anywhere. Lucas considers the Special Edition the definitive version of the film, even though it has changed multiple times since it was released in 1997 for the film’s twentieth anniversary.
The original 1977 version of the film is now available, however, and has been uploaded to a free movie streaming service. The legality of the film’s availability is questionable, obviously, so if you want to see it, we strongly suggest you move quickly to watch it. The only catch is you’ll have to be a Roku user to see it.
How to Watch The Original Theatrical Version of Star Wars
If you own a Roku TV or device, go to the SEARCH option and look for the Cinema Box app. You’ll know you have the right app if you see this icon:
Once you have it installed, you can find the film in either a featured category or by searching for it (hit the arrow to the left to access the search option and other categories.
Where Did This Version of Star Wars Come From?
After watching the credits, it is clear this version of the film is Harmy’s Despecialized Edition, a fan-made restoration project by Petr Harmy that used various sources to create the highest-quality version of the original theatrical film.
Although the Despecialized Edition has reportedly been mastered in 4K, the version available on Cinema Box appears to only be in HD, and the quality of the image seems to be affected by the app, not the video source itself.
This video, from the HarmyFilm YouTube Channel, explains the origins of the Despecialized Edition, and how it was created.
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